Dry January 2025

Take on 31 days alcohol-free with Alcohol Change UK for a total body and mind reset. From clearer skin and a mental health boost, to saving money and time – there’s a whole lot to gain this Dry January.

Dry January means going alcohol-free for the whole month and that can bring huge, obvious benefits – but the really good stuff is under the surface…

What you’ll notice

See your skin get brighter, your wallet fuller, your days busier. Feel your step get bouncier, your mind calmer, your mornings fresher. Most people who do Dry January see a whole host of obvious benefits that make Dry January the perfect start to the New Year.

On the inside

A month alcohol-free has a lot of benefits:2018 research conducted by the Royal Free Hospital and published in the British Medical Journal, found that a month off:

• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces diabetes risk
• Lowers cholesterol
• Reduces levels of cancer-related proteins in the blood.

Long-term change

How can it be that just a month off has a long-term impact? Being alcohol-free for 31 days shows us that we don’t need alcohol to have fun, to relax, or to socialise. It helps us learn the skills we need to manage our drinking. That means that for the rest of the year we are better able to make decisions about when we drink and how much, so we can avoid slipping into drinking more than we really want to.

That’s extra good news, because alcohol is linked with more than 60 health conditions, including liver disease, high blood pressure, depression and seven types of cancer. In fact, alcohol is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability for people aged 15-49 in the UK. Cutting back on alcohol long-term reduces your risk of developing these conditions.

Managing your drinking

If you feel that alcohol may be having a negative impact on your life, making small changes to your drinking could help you feel better.

Try Dry – The app to help you cut down

You can now download Try Dry: the Dry January app for free to help you drink more healthily.

Download the free app to help you meet your goals, whether you want to take on Dry January (or another dry challenge), cut down on your drinking, or go totally alcohol-free.

• Track your units, calories and money saved when you cut down or cut out alcohol
• Understand your drinking pattern and track your progress by using the ‘My charts’ feature to see how much money you spend, units you drink and calories you consume over a time period
• Get the full picture with the Units calendar overview
• Monitor your wellbeing with sleep, energy levels, mood and craving intensity trackers
• Use the ‘Notes’ section to record your thoughts, feelings, daily reflections, events or learning
• Use the health quiz to check up on your drinking
• Keep track of your current and best ever dry streaks
• Find extra free tools, tips and resources in the ‘More’ section
• Use the app for Dry January and beyond

Try the App here.

Warning!!

People who are clinically alcohol dependent can die if they suddenly, completely stop drinking.

If you experience fits, shaking hands, sweating, seeing things that are not real, depression, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping after a period of drinking and while sobering up, then you may be clinically alcohol dependent and should NOT suddenly, completely stop drinking.

But you can still take control of your drinking. Talk to a GP or your local community alcohol service who will be able to get help for you to reduce your drinking safely.

Find further support here.

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