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In January many of us kick off the new year with vows to get healthy, eat better, and exercise more.

#DryJanuary is trending on social media, with more than 44,000 posts on Instagram alone.
#DryJanuary is trending on social media, with more than 44,000 posts on Instagram alone.

But more and more people are also resolving to cut down on drinking during January, or cut out alcohol altogether, as part of their fresh start. In fact, “Dry January” has become a wide-spread custom in some countries in recent years. In the U.K., the charity Alcohol Concern has run an official Dry January campaign since 2013, urging people to pledge to give up drinking for the month.

Whether it’s to make up for the excesses of the holiday season or to turn over a new, more sober leaf, experts say quitting alcohol for a month really can improve your overall health.

In the short-term, people who give up alcohol for 30 days report better sleep and concentration, and tests show even a few weeks of abstinence can reduce cholesterol and glucose levels. And since a couple of glasses of wine can add as much as 300 calories to your daily intake, it’s not surprising that many people also report losing weight just from cutting out booze.

Even when people return to drinking after their dry month, many report that they drink less than they had in the past, suggesting that a break from alcohol can help instill healthier drinking habits. But experts also caution that the best way to see lasting health benefits is to moderate your alcohol consumption the whole year long, not just in January.

Would you consider giving up alcohol for a month?

 

Sobering Up Administrator

Sobering Up Administrator

Sobering Up: A blog about drunk driving, alcohol addiction, and criminal justice, is anything but a corporate blog. Sobering Up is an opportunity for anyone interested or involved in the issues of drunk driving, alcohol-fueled crime, alcohol dependence and addiction, and the justice system to participate in the conversation.

3 Comments

  1. I’ve given up drinking altogether because of SCRAM testing (probation-have no choice), however, this device has kept me sober since Jan 5 2017. This is a huge milestone, seeing how I was drinking for the past ten years everyday without a single break!!

  2. You must be proud of yourself and definetly feel better in many ways.
    I’ve been sober for 6 months on my own, but had court proceedings during the six months,my last recent court appearance this month i was put on the scram unit. It dont bother me to be on it,also i had a 6 month head start of being sober. I just get scared if i miss a breath test

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