We all know someone who participated in Dry January for the supposed health benefits. However, does a month’s break from alcohol actually lead to lesser drinking?
17% of us in the UK intended to take part in Dry January, according to a Lightspeed survey. People engage in the month-long challenge for various reasons such as saving money, raising money for charity or simply jumping on the bandwagon. Many of the participants believe that the booze-free task will also improve their health.
One study, conducted on rats, actually showed that a month’s abstention from alcohol actually encouraged heavier drinking afterwards.
Luckily, a different conclusion was found amongst humans. Research by the University found that Dry January allowed people to “regain control of their drinking, having more energy, better skin and losing weight. They also report drinking less months later.”
Maddy Lawson at Alcohol Change UK told the BBC that people are “better off having a couple of dry days a week throughout the year instead.”