HEALTH

4 Ways Dry January Can Positively Impact Your Health

Dry January is a way to take a break from alcohol once the holiday season of eggnog, champagne and sorrel is over. Many people are participating in this global effort to eliminate alcohol intake for a month. Others partake in beer and wine only, excluding spirits and liqueurs. It allows people to reflect on their alcohol consumption and participate consciously, if at all.

Alcohol Change, a charitable organization focused on eliminating alcohol-related harm, launched its first Dry January campaign in 2013. The practice of committing to sobriety for a set period of time has become Roots in FinlandAccording to the Journal of Clinical Medicine. This article revealed that “organised campaigns for alcohol-free months are now common across Europe and the USA, with millions taking part every year”. 2022 article in Harm Reduction Journal “Over the past decade, one-month abstinence from alcohol campaigns (OMACs) have been implemented among the general population in an increasing number of countries,” reports state.

The rise in engagement could be evidence of the sober curious movement gaining momentum as Generation Z defines their relationship with alcohol consumption. There is more room than ever to be sober in mainstream social settings. The days of extreme stigma for moderation are fading. “The promotion of the idea of ​​reducing alcohol consumption through more ‘conscious’ drinking is being accompanied by an expanding market for alcohol-free beverages, ‘dry’ drinking venues, or licensed bars offering alcohol-free options,” according to a 2022 article in the journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Participating in Dry January has the potential to impact one's health in multiple positive ways.

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Even those who don't end up participating in Dry January can be positively affected by its experience. “Both successful and unsuccessful participants frequently reported health benefits,” according to Harm Reduction Journal. According to Dr. Joseph R. Volpicelli (M.D.), Ph.D. “Staying away from alcohol can reduce anxiety, stabilize mood, and clarify its impact on daily life. It is also an opportunity to reset habits and re-evaluate a person’s relationship with alcohol.

Dr. Volpicelli stressed that what happens after Dry January ends is important in a statement to Black Health Matters. “The month is a great starting point for observing significant health benefits and thinking about your drinking habits. But what's most important is what comes after the month is over. Falling back into old patterns without thinking can mean missing out on the opportunity for lasting change. Extending a break or adopting mindful drinking habits can help Maintain progress. “For those struggling to completely abstain from smoking, a 'wet January', where drinking is limited to one or two occasional drinks, can also be effective,” he said.

Dry January can reduce the risk of cancer

US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a… 2025 report Which revealed “scientific evidence of a causal relationship between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of at least seven different types of cancer, including breast cancer (in women), colorectal, esophagus, voice box, liver, mouth, and larynx.” That report stated that “alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity.”

Consuming less alcohol may help reduce the risk. The U.S. Surgeon General's Office is so concerned about the risks posed by alcohol consumption that they are calling for bold warning labels to be placed on alcoholic beverages to make the public aware of the dangers associated with late-night cocktails.

Dry January can help you sleep better

Skipping those snapshots may be the key to improving and maintaining your sleep hygiene. Binge drinking has been shown to prevent short- and long-term ZZZs in several studies. “Alcohol use is associated with poor sleep quality,” according to a 2022 study published in the journal Journal of Sleep Advances. Journal of Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research He noted that alcohol consumption is linked not only to insomnia, but to other sleep disorders as well.

Dry January can help you lose weight

TBritish Journal of General Practice Reports suggest that “stopping alcohol can help people achieve their weight loss goals.” A 2018 study published in BMJ is open It found that moderate drinkers who stopped drinking alcohol lost more than four pounds on average. It also reported that they showed positive improvements in insulin resistance, a health factor linked to weight management.

Dry January can help improve your mental health

There is an “elevated risk of alcohol use in the presence of anxiety,” according to the report Journal of Alcohol Research: Current Reviews“Mentally, staying away from alcohol can reduce anxiety, stabilize mood, and clarify its impact on daily life. It is also an opportunity to reset habits and re-evaluate a person’s relationship with alcohol,” Dr. Volpicelli said.

Learn more about Dry January here.



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