Dry January is the UK's one-month alcohol-free challenge. It isn’t about giving anything up. It’s about getting something back. Get your fun back. Get your energy back. Get your calm back. Get your YOU back!

Why do Dry January?

Dry January means going alcohol-free for the whole month using Alcohol Change UK's tools and resources, and that can bring huge, obvious benefits - but the really good stuff is under the surface...

1. What you'll notice

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

• 70% of people sleep better
• 86% of people save money
• 65% of people notice generally improved health

2. On the inside

A month alcohol-free has a lot of benefits: research published in 2018, 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.

Wow.

3. Long-term change

The real magic happens when Dry January is over. Dry January helps people to drink more healthily year-round. Research conducted by the University of Sussex has found that six months after Dry January more than 70% of people who take on the month with Alcohol Change UK's Try Dry app or coaching emails are still drinking more healthily. On top of that, they have boosted levels of wellbeing, and much more besides.

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.

Go dry for charity

Dry January will make a difference to you as you save money, feel great and look fabulous - but it can make a difference to others too, as you can raise money for or donate to charity.

In the UK one person every hour dies as a result of alcohol. The harm doesn’t end with the individual; each of us who drinks too much is part of a family and a community who feel the effects too, whether through frequent use of emergency services, drink driving, violence or neglect.

At Alcohol Change UK, we work to end the harm caused by alcohol. We are not anti-alcohol; we are for alcohol change. With your help this Dry January, we can change and save lives.

There are two ways you can help:

• Give what you save. Lots of people who do Dry January find that they save money by not drinking, and you might decide to donate some of what you save.
• Get sponsored. Asking your friends and family to sponsor your Dry January is a great way to add some extra motivation, all while raising money for an amazing cause.

Want to take part and go dry for January? Sign up here!