If you’re hearing the term for the first time and wondering what Dry January actually is, we’re here to explain it all in our short guide.
What is Dry January?
Dry January is a campaign run by Alcohol Change UK that encourages people to take the whole of January off the booze.
The campaign is run around the benefits of taking a month of drinking alcohol, with some of the benefits including better sleep, better mental and physical health and plenty of money saved.
The programme hopes to get people reducing their alcohol intake on the whole and also raising awareness of the issues surrounding alcohol.
It began in 2013, meaning 2023 is its 10th year.
Read the full Dry January story here.
When does Dry January start?
The non-profit campaign starts on January 1st 2023, and finishes on 31st January 2023, meaning you can have an alcoholic drink on the 1st February, if you wish.
However, the campaign promotes being mindful with your drinking and not just doing it for the sake of it, so if on February 1st you don’t need to have a drink, continue the healthy habit into the next month!
Dry January - What You Can Expect By Taking Part
There are many reasons to have a month off the booze and participate in Dry January, some more surprising than others.
You can expect a lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and risk of liver disease and a reduced diabetes risk by just having ONE month alcohol-free.
As well as this, you can expect weight loss, more energy, better sleep and an overall improvement on your mood, especially if you fill the time you’d usually be drinking with more fulfilling activities.
As well as this, research shows that it can really help your relationship with alcohol going forward, and as alcohol is linked to 60 common health issues, this is an added bonus.
Generally, it’s a great way to start the year, and ensures that you’re prepared for anything that January throws at you, which can be a lot, especially as it’s often seen as a blue month.
By taking it off the booze however, you can expect to end the month feeling fulfilled and full of a sense of achievement, something we could always do with more of.
How many people do Dry January?
When the campaign began in 2013, 4000 people signed up and took part, and since then the movement has gained a lot of traction.
In 2022, 130,000 people have signed up for the 2023 campaign, a significant increase on the year before which saw 100,000 sign up for the 2022 month.
It has been reported however that millions of people take part in it over the world, the statistics given are just from sign ups on the Alcohol Change UK app and website.
Significantly more people are giving up alcohol, especially younger people, so we’re certain that plenty of people you know will be taking part in 2023’s month-long challenge, will you?
How do I get through Dry January?
Taking a month off the booze can be tough, especially in January. But that’s the point, it’s made to challenge you, create healthy habits and leave you feeling full of pride.
We suggest tracking your progress using the Try Dry app, planning fun adventures and activities to replace the drinking time and having a strong support network around you reminding you exactly why you’re doing it.
If it was easy, everyone would do it!
If you’re looking for tasty alcohol-free options to get you through the month, we’ve got the best here at ZeroZilchZip, all specially selected by our Zerologists. There’s loads of cool recipes in our Zerology Zone, too!
