Dry January too daunting? A damp one is also worthwhile
It’s the end of December and my inbox is flooded with pitches for mocktails, apps and lifestyle gurus ready to help you sober up after the holiday excess. So-called ‘Dry January,’ initially just a public health campaign, is now as fully commercial as Christmas and New Year’s Eve [in the US]. But according to data from Morning Consult, fewer people in the US participated in Dry January in 2023.
Older generations show the least interest. That’s a shame, because the health benefits of consuming less alcohol couldn’t be clearer. Maybe one way to get more on board would be to extol moderation rather than abstinence.
For some, a dry-as-the-desert January can be daunting—maybe you don’t want to forgo the celebratory glass of champagne for a birthday or anniversary, or skip the fancy cocktail at a restaurant you’ve been waiting months to try. If you’ll cave once or twice, why bother at all? But there are still health benefits to a ‘damp’ January: pare back rather than abstain. Even a moderate month can offer one of the biggest benefits of Dry January: reflecting on one’s relationship with alcohol.
That means noticing why you have the impulse to grab a drink—for example, how often is it a response to stress? Does it feel daunting to mingle at a party without a glass of wine? Is one nightly drink turning into two or three? Whether dry or damp, January can also be a chance to take inventory of how your body feels on less booze. If your sleep improves, your mind is clearer in the morning, or you don’t find yourself reaching for pills as often, your body might be telling you to consider more than just a month of moderation. That’s a message worth listening to, especially for women, who are catching up with men when it comes to
. Read more on livemint.com
