Dry January: What Is It, and Why You Should Try It

Dry January started several decades ago in Finland as part of a post-WWII effort to help the Finnish public control their alcohol use. In 2013, the U.K. and other European countries re-launched it as a public health initiative to encourage people to take a break from alcohol for the 31 days of January.

According to surveys, millions of people around the world now take part in this event as a way to curb or stop their alcohol use in social settings and at home.

If you’ve never tried it, or haven’t yet put it into place this year, I strongly urge you to consider it. Starting today.

For one thing, it makes more sense than ever this year. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Addiction (NIAAA), alcohol use disorders are spiking during this time of quarantines, isolating lockdowns, civil unrest, and economic uncertainty. The NIAAA also reports that although opioids sometimes get more public attention, alcohol continues to be the most harmful and abused substance in the U.S.

Here are some more great reasons to give Dry January a shot:

1. You’ll likely lose weight. This is the number one New Year’s resolution for people in the U.S. Given that an average glass of wine is 120 calories, and a beer upwards of 200 calories, the calories can really add up. That beer gut or those extra 3 to 5 pounds you want to lose may go quickly once you cut out the alcohol.
2. You'll save money. Surveys show that the average person spends between $57,000 and $120,000 on alcohol in a lifetime. The amount people spend during the end-of-year holidays often equals the amount spent during the rest of the year combined! That’s a lot of money that could be put toward all sorts of other healthier things.
3. You’ll likely sleep better. Alcohol is known to negatively affect the sleep/wake cycles of the brain. People who drink close to bedtime, and sometimes even several hours beforehand, can disrupt their REM sleep cycles. Why is this important? Because that’s when restorative sleep occurs, which helps with overall health, stress levels, body tissue repair, and mental health. Getting good sleep can even make it easier to lose weight!
4. You may drink less the rest of the year. Studies show that people who participate in a Dry January tend to drink less in February and beyond. People often drink on fewer days of the week, and less on the days they do drink.
5. Your brain will thank you. Multiple recent studies out of Britain and the U.S. show that even moderate levels of alcohol use (on average two to three drinks a day) are linked to brain damage in the memory centers. It can also slow the development of white matter, which is the material that regulates how fast your brain works. Research also shows that alcohol is one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for dementia in later life.

Today is January 10th, so we are nearly a third of the way into the month. Does that mean you should just hang back and wait until Dry January 2022? No.

You can still start today, and extend into February once you get through the next three weeks. Besides, the benefits I laid out above are not exclusive to January or any other month, for that matter.

Keep in mind, if you suspect you or a loved one may be addicted to alcohol, which is defined as loss of control of alcohol use and damaging consequences from alcohol use, please speak with a professional before starting Dry January. Detoxing on your own can be dangerous.

This expert can also explain some of the treatment options available to you that may end up being your path to a happier, healthier, more productive life.

Good luck with Dry January.