Dry January: why you should do it

Dry January is a 30-day challenge that involves abstaining from drinking alcohol for the entire month of January. This movement was launched by the British charity Alcohol Change UK in 2013, with the aim of raising awareness of the effects of alcohol on health and wellbeing.
The idea is to take an alcohol break after the festive season and allow the body to regenerate. In addition to the physical benefits it brings, Dry January encourages participants to reflect on their alcohol consumption habits.

In France, there is a website where you can register to take part in the challenge: dryjanuary.fr
This makes it possible, in particular, to receive advice, encouragement and testimonials from other participants.

Effects and benefits for the body of a month without alcohol

Improvement of sleep quality:

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine showed that people who reduce or stop their alcohol consumption have more restorative sleep, with an increased number of deep sleep cycles (Phase 3 and 4).

Improvement of liver function:

The liver begins to repair itself as soon as a person stops drinking. In a month, a reduction in liver inflammation and better liver function can already be observed.

Reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease:

A month without alcohol leads to a significant drop in blood pressure and thus an improvement in heart function.

Weight loss:

A study conducted by Alcohol Change UK in 2019 observed that Dry January participants lost an average of 1.4 kg over the course of the month, mainly due to the reduction in calories consumed through alcoholic beverages.

Skin and hydration improvement:

Alcohol dehydrates the skin and can cause redness and inflammation. After a month of abstaining, the skin often becomes more radiant and less prone to acne or breakouts.

In addition to these physical benefits, a majority of participants in the “Dry January” challenge report also experiencing psychological well-being, with a reduction in anxiety and stress.

Some figures regarding Dry January

• A 2019 study of 2,000 Dry January participants found that 70% of them noticed improvements in their sleep, 67% reported feeling less anxious, and 58% observed healthier skin.
• 85% of participants reported having saved money, as alcohol is often a significant expense.
• On average, Dry January participants lost 1 to 2 kg during the month.

On a personal note, I have already experienced on several occasions alcohol-free month. I notice that this has an influence on my consumption (which decreases during the following months) and it allows me to do a little “audit” of my relationship with alcohol: When do I like drinking? When can I easily do without it? What impact does it have on my budget? So I can only recommend that you try a little alcohol-free month, it's an easy challenge, from which you will reap concrete benefits.