When did Dry January start and what’s the best way to give up alcohol?
THE new year is officially upon us, and with it comes countless Brits having their yearly stab at Dry January.
Popular as a way to banish some of that Christmas guilt, Dry January challenges you to leave the booze be for a whole month. Here's all you need to know.
What is Dry January?
Run by Alcohol Concern, Dry January is a campaign - and an accompanying app - encouraging people to stop drinking alcohol during the first month of the year.
Alcohol Concern's boasts that 79 per cent of last year's 5 million Dry January participants saved money, while 62 per cent reported having better sleep and more energy.
Many people will use Dry January for a post-Christmas detox, with Alcohol Concern saying the month-long movement lets you take control over your relationship with booze and drive a conversation about alcohol.
When did Dry January start?
The idea behind Dry January came in 2011, when an Alcohol Concern employee decided to sack off the booze for a month before running a half marathon in February.
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Alcohol Concern ran their firsr Dry January campaign in 2013 - seeing nearly 4,500 people take part - rising to 17,000 the following year.
The Dry January app was launched in in 2016, with five million Brits on board by 2017.
Now ran by Alcohol Change UK - a merger of Alcohol Concern and Alcohol Research UK - the event has helped participants exponentially in their daily lives with 86% saving money while the majority enjoying better sleep and having more energy, according to their .
What's the best way to quit drinking?
If you think you may have an alcohol dependency or experience any alcohol withdrawal symptoms then you should talk to your GP.
People who drink alcohol without being dependent on it can try downloading the for motivation and tips as they cut out the booze.
Meanwhile, DrinkAware offers its own tips for quitting drinking, including telling your family and friends what you want to do and why.
This way, they're more likely to support you, and they'll understand why you turn down any drinks at the pub - and may even want to quit along with you.
Early on, you're also probably best off avoiding any tempting situations, and trying to fill gaps where you'd usually drink with things like cinema trips or a new sport.
And for many people, cutting down on alcohol gradually will be easier to stick to than giving up overnight, and you'll fare better if you stick to small, short-term goals and reward yourself for hitting them.