Now that the holiday parties
are over, nearly everyone has set their New Year resolutions in motion in 2020.
One of those resolutions may involve cutting down the consumption of alcohol or
cocktails.
And that is why “Dry
January” has always trended every year as it prompts many people
to desist from consuming alcohol in the first month of a New Year.
However, the question in the
minds of many is, “Does it work?”
According to some experts,
slowing down the intake of alcohol, especially after the most celebratory
periods of the year does good for the human body. It significantly improves
sleep, reduces calories while bringing incredible awareness about drinking
habits.
But for many others, this
approach may not work as it could be something much more profound. Following
the cold-turkey route could be highly dangerous for such people and therefore,
not advisable.
But what do you even know
about “Dry January”? Here are a few things to know about this annual
trend:
Where It Began
Alcohol Concern – now known
as Alcohol Change UK – is a group based in the United Kingdom. This group is credited
with starting this trend known as “Dry January” challenge about 7 years ago,
2013 to be precise.
In its inaugural year, about
4,000 individuals participated in this challenge, according to the UK-based
group. And a hashtag was coined for the challenge which has grown considerably
since then.
According to the latest
tracking of the group, about 100,000 individuals signed up on its official
website in January 2018. But results show that millions of people from around
the world actually participated in the challenge.
Alcohol Change UK projects
that at least 10 percent of those who consume alcoholic beverages in the United
Kingdom will participate in the Dry January challenge this month.
According to the CEO of
Alcohol Change UK, Richard Piper, “Dry January provides a ready-made response
to any person who tries to pressure any one of us to drink.” He further stated
that “Strong evidence indicates that signing up for the Dry January challenge
helps a lot of people, even heavy drinkers, to drink more responsibly and in a
healthy manner.”
But experts opine that the
challenge is not for everyone, especially those considered to be heavy
drinkers. They also stated that it is a challenge that could backfire even for
moderate drinkers.
Dry January is Not a
Treatment
Clinical director of Lake
County services at Gateway Foundation treatment centers, Mark Zissman, urges
heavy drinkers to confer with professionals before participating in a Dry
January challenge.
The psychologist also
encourages them to consider why they want to quit alcohol consumption for a
month. If it is an addiction, treatment would be more beneficial than engaging
in the January challenge.
Who Enjoys the Benefits of
this Challenge?
Alcohol Change UK quotes
research which shows that 72 percent of Dry January participants engage in less
risky drinking for at least six months after Dry January.
This shows that for many, Dry
January could be a very healthy endeavor. An additional benefit enjoyed by
participants is that they save a lot of money.
