Fancy a drink? No thanks, mate… Britain is embracing the second Dry January campaign, with almost four times as many people staying off the booze in 2014 compared to last year.
National organisation Alcohol Concern reported 1,000 Facebook likes throughout the entire month in 2013, the campaign’s first run out, while when contacted by MM seven days into this year’s effort they were dancing to the tune of nearly 25,000 thumbs up and over 16,000 participants.
Last year the organisation, one of the UK’s leading charities dealing with drink-related issues, raised more than £45,000 towards providing specialist training for authorities to help with problems such as addiction though they are on course to blow that figure out the water.
After a month that consists of excessive drinking for many Britons to see in Christmas and the New Year, the best way to repair any damage is by forgoing alcohol completely and people are getting wise to the effects of staying sober.
Altrincham student Jack Rainey, 22, is taking up the challenge of Dry January.
He said: “Originally I thought going a month without drinking would be difficult.
“But because of the amount I drank and spent on alcohol over December, it has really motivated me to stop drinking until February.”
New research conducted by the University of London has also revealed that volunteers who withheld from drinking for just five weeks improved their fitness levels significantly.
On average participants lost 3.3lb’s, cut cholesterol levels by 5% and blood glucose levels by almost a quarter.
“The campaign is a great idea because people often don’t want to drink much after Christmas, but Dry January is the extra motivation to actually do it,” added Mr Rainey.
“It also mean you can raise money for a worthwhile cause, as drinking in this country is becoming a bit of a problem.”
Commenting on Alcohol Concern’s Dry January campaign, Professor Paul Wallace, Chief Medical Advisor to alcohol education charity Drinkaware, said: “We welcome Alcohol Concern’s Dry January campaign.
“Taking a break from alcohol can be a good opportunity for consumers to reflect on how much and how often they drink and the impact on their health, family and relationships.
“We encourage consumers who do ‘take a break’ from alcohol, to use this as an opportunity to change their behaviour and, where necessary, moderate their drinking over the longer term.”
Research revealed that there were 13,783 admissions to Manchester hospitals for alcohol-attributable conditions in 2010/11 – close to a 150% increase since 2002/03.
Drinkaware’s recent estimates suggest that approximately 80,000 adult drinkers (29%) in Manchester consume alcohol at a high risk level.
Alcohol Concern will be helping participants by hosting Q&A sessions on Facebook and Twitter to ensure people reach their target of February 1.
An expert panel has been assembled to answer queries and provide recipes for exotic drinks that don’t contain any liquor.
MM took to the streets to see whether people would consider a ‘Janopause’ in 2015.
Kate Finlan, 26, an estate agent from Essex, said: “It sounds like a good idea, but I like to let my hair down at the weekend and a drink really helps me relax.
“I am sure it would improve my health, but I don’t think I could give up rosé for a whole month.”
A sales director, Mary Trainor, 44, from Irlam, added: “I might give it a go next year, I love doing things for charity and this will have a health benefit as well.
“Drinking over Christmas is obviously a must, so doing Dry January will help even that out.”
Max Parker, a retail assistant, from Ardwick, said: “Drinking is can often be so bad for your health and the run up to Christmas with work nights out really does affect me.
“Dry January is a great idea, I am surprised that I haven’t heard about it before and I will give it a serious go next year.”
The 20-year-old also claimed that he would be attempting to go ‘dry’ for the rest of the month as a personal goal.
For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/DryJanuary?fref=ts or their main website http://www.dryjanuary.org.uk/
Image courtesy of Simon Cocks, with thanks.
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