Dry January is a national campaign promoted by Alcohol Change UK. Every hour someone dies because of excessive alcohol consumption. Thus, this champaign was developed to educate people on the dangers of excessive drinking by encouraging people to give up drinking alcohol for the month of January each year.
Dry January provides an opportunity for individuals to develop new habits such as turning down alcohol in social settings. Research by the University of Sussex has shown that 70% of individuals who partook in Dry January, 6 months later had developed healthier drinking habits.
Risks of excessive alcohol consumption
- Insomnia
- Hypertension
- Heart attack
- Weight gain
- Low quality sleep
- Violent tendencies / Aggressive behaviour
- Negative impact on mental health
- Cancer
Benefits of dry January
- Weight loss – drinking alcohol can increase our overall recommended daily calorie intake thereby resulting in weight gain.
- Lowers blood pressure- Alcohol increase blood pressure via various pathways and hormones within the body. It does this by increasing the effects of the hormone Renin, vasopressin and antidiuretic hormone that causes the body to hold onto more water thereby resulting in through Baroreceptors.
- Improves mood- Dopamine and Serotonin are the body’s happy hormones. Small quantities of alcohol can increase the levels of these hormones thereby making you feel more cheerful. However, larger quantities can replace the desired effects of dopamine resulting in confusion, dehydration, nausea and lead to depression and low mood.
- Better quality sleep – increased alcohol consumption has been associated with insomnia, as it has been shown to disrupt all aspects of the circadian rhythm.
- Skin improvements - alcohol causes dehydration due to the loss of fluid from tissues. This causes the skin to lose essential nutrients and vitamins resulting in wrinkles to develop more rapidly.
- Better digestion – abstaining from alcohol can reduce the likelihood of developing stomach problems such as: gastritis and acid reflux. As a result, the body can absorb and store nutrients more effectively.
Am I drinking too much alcohol?
The recommended unit a week for both men and woman is 14 units.
- You or someone you know could be misusing alcohol if:
- They feel the need a drink first thing in the morning to start their day
- They feel guilty or bad regarding their drinking
- People have criticised their excessive drinking
- Frequently not being able to recall events from the previous night
- Fail to carryout duties and commitments due to their drinking e.g., missing appointments
How to get help
If you are concerned about your drinking or a loved one the first step is to contact your GP. In addition to the NHS there are a variety of services, charities, and support groups available.