Try Dry

Each year, Alcohol Change UK encourage the public to start the year off sober, by spending the 31 days in January alcohol-free. Alcohol consumption in any quantity is not good for our health, be it mental or physical, and Dry January hopes to bring more attention to what life without alcohol can look like. “People who take part in the Dry January® challenge tell us they are sleeping better, have more energy, are saving money and enjoying permanent improvements in their mood,” says Dr Richard Piper, CEO at Alcohol Change UK. This year, the team at Alcohol Change UK are emphasising the free tools and resources made available by them to anyone who wants to partake in the campaign, striving to make participation as easy as possible.

Why should customers Try Dry? 

Taking a break from drinking, for varying time periods, has become more popular over recent years, a feeling Alcohol Change UK wish to build on. The challenge itself has grown considerably since it first launched in 2013, and now in its 11th year, “looks to reach and help more of the millions of people keen to reset their relationship with alcohol in January and beyond,” says Dr Piper. “Between 2019 and 2024, the number of people planning an alcohol-free January has more than doubled from 4.2 million to 8.5 million. This is a rise from one in 10 to one in six adults in the UK and is being driven by a growing recognition of alcohol’s impact on our health, wellbeing and quality of life. From headaches, sleepless nights and feeling ‘off’ the next day, to high blood pressure, anxiety, and cancer, these wide-ranging impacts affect so many.”

The benefits

There are numerous benefits to going alcohol-free, as alcohol is a known depressant, and excess use can lead to increased risk of various health conditions. “Physically, a month off alcohol can lead to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes risk, as well as lower cancer-related proteins in the blood. It also boosts your immune system and gives you more energy, better sleep, brighter skin, and stronger hair and nails.” What is often clearer to see is the difference to mental health, clarity and wellbeing that can accompany time spent off drinking. “Psychologically, regular or heavy drinking can affect your mental health and influence feelings of stress, low mood and anxiety. Stopping drinking for a time will help to relieve these feelings, improving your mood and reducing anxiety,” says Dr Piper. “After this reset, armed with all the positive impacts you’ve experienced, you might find you can successfully return to a low level of drinking or not drinking at all.” Many people can go a few days without drinking, but this is not enough time to experience the benefits of being without alcohol – so a full month is the best way to go. 

The hope is that beyond the month of January, people will continue to implement healthier attitudes to consuming alcohol based on the changes they have seen and felt from their month sober – and Alcohol Change UK provide their free tools and support for this reason. “70 per cent of participants of the Dry January® challenge that used these tools and resources by Alcohol Change UK are still drinking less alcohol six months later and experiencing significantly improved wellbeing and reduced alcohol-related health risks long-term,” says Dr Piper. “Those taking on the Dry January® challenge with Alcohol Change UK’s tools and resources are doubling their chances of a successful alcohol-free month vs those attempting to avoid alcohol on their own.”

Pharmacy's role to play

Pharmacy teams can make a huge impact on their communities’ health by encouraging participation in Dry January. “We’d encourage pharmacy teams to emphasise the ease and convenience of the Dry January® challenge and the tools and resources available with Alcohol Change UK. These tools, including our app Try Dry, are free to download and sign up to and proven to help people have a successful month off alcohol vs going it alone,” says Dr Piper. The app encourages users with daily tips, motivation, has an online peer-to-peer community and has a feature whereby users can see their days sober, how much money they’ve saved and track personal goals. This way, pharmacy customers can keep track of their alcohol habits year-round. Remind customers that starting or giving it a go is the most important part, and with the help of the app, other ‘dry tools’ on alcoholchange.org.uk and the companionship of thousands of others taking on the challenge, January is a great time to start. “A New Year offers all of us an opportunity to set our goals for the 12 months ahead which increasingly for many, includes a desire to improve our relationship with alcohol,” says Dr Piper.