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What could Dry January do for you? More than you might think

6.1.2023

Translation: Katherine Martin

For the first time ever, I’m considering doing Dry January. At any rate, there are good reasons to give up alcohol for a month – some of which astound me.

«Are you doing Dry January?» my colleague asks, perplexed after I decline a glass of white wine shortly after New Year. No, I’m not. Doing it hadn’t even occurred to me. After a boozy Christmas, topped off by an alcohol-soaked New Year’s Eve, I simply have no desire to hit the bottle right now.

This white wine episode reminds me of the so-called pregnancy phenomenon: from the moment you’re pregnant, you suddenly see women with bumps everywhere. That’s what it’s like for me with Dry January. Whether it’s in my friend group, at the office or on the train, I’ve been stumbling across it everywhere since my colleague mentioned it. It’s as if the whole world is collectively swearing off alcohol these days. If you’re not joining in, you’re out.

My rookie assumptions are being challenged

These kinds of trends spark one feeling in me above all: scepticism. «What rubbish. Doing it for such a short time is pointless anyway,» I think to myself, starting to look for confirmation of my rookie assumptions.

One hour later, I take it all back.

My research revealed the opposite, namely that Dry January does, in fact, seem to entail more advantages than I thought. So many that I’m contemplating jumping on the bandwagon for the first time.

Better metabolism, fewer kilos

As reported in the Washington Post, a 2018 study conducted by the University of Sussex revealed considerable health benefits as early as one month into a sober stint. More than half of the participants who abstained from alcohol lost weight and had better metabolism than people who continued drinking within the same timeframe. This is despite not changing their diet, smoking habits or exercise regimes. What’s more, their risk of diabetes and cancer dropped;

the latter also being mentioned in an SRF report (video in German). According to Philip Bruggmann, Co-Head of General Internal Medicine at Arud Zentrum für Suchtmedizin (The Arud Centre for Addiction Medicine) in Zurich, the longer a person stays alcohol-free, the more fully the body can recover, minimising, for example, the risk of cancer. The immune system works better when it’s not being diminished by alcohol.

New drinking habits

Of course, if you fall back into your old drinking patterns as soon as 1 February hits, Dry January is of little consequence. What’s surprising, however, is that for most of those who took part in the study, saying no to booze continued to have positive effects beyond January. This was revealed by a follow-up survey of the participants six to eight months later.

Most of the group who gave up drinking for a month did go back to consuming alcohol. However, they continued to drink a «significantly reduced» amount. On average, the number of days they drank dropped from 4.3 days per week to 3.3. Similarly, the amount they drank also decreased. Before Dry January, the participants got drunk 3.4 times per month on average. By August, the figure had fallen to 2.1 times. Interestingly, people who didn’t make it through the entire month also noted changes in their alcohol consumption.

The key takeaway from 31 days of sobriety is that we don’t need alcohol to have fun, socialise or relax, says Richard Piper, CEO of Alcohol Challenge UK, the initiative which established Dry January. «That means that for the rest of the year, we’re better able to make decisions about our drinking, and to avoid slipping into drinking more than we really want to.»

Better sleep, more energy

Unsurprisingly, the majority of the participants in the Sussex study noted feeling healthier in general. 67 per cent had more energy, 57 per cent were able to concentrate better and 54 per cent had better skin. 71 per cent also slept better: «A temporary abstention from alcohol relieves pressure on the body,» explains Denise Zai, Health Promotion Specialist at Gesundheit Schwyz (Health Switzerland) in the SRF report. «The body isn’t working to break down alcohol anymore. As a result, people sleep better, feel healthier and have more energy.»

Looking forward to after-work drinks

These are all good reasons to do Dry January. Clearly, they’ve convinced millions of people around the world to go for it. In its birthplace of Great Britain alone, 4 million people took part in the challenge in 2020. According to dryjanuary.ch, around one million people in Switzerland in 2021 officially signed up and took part in the campaign backed by the Federal Office of Public Health. This year, there’s likely to be at least as many teetotallers on account of the continuing trend.

So, will I now join in as well? No. At least not officially. That’s although, theoretically, I could still jump on the bandwagon. After all, I still haven’t touched a drop of alcohol in 2023. And I don’t plan to either, besides two exceptions. I’m looking forward to going for after-work drinks on two occasions this month. There, at least, I’ll treat myself to a glass of wine or two.

Incidentally, there’s another argument for Dry January that lies outside the field of health, as I discovered during my research. Namely the old farming proverb: «A cold, dry January is often followed by a snowy February.» But that’s another story.

Are you taking part in Dry January? Simon, my colleague in the editorial team, has pulled together three alcohol-free alternatives for you:

Cover photo: Katja Fischer

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Katja Fischer

Senior Editor

Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.ch

Mom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.

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