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Dry January has become an international movement. The premise is simple, start the new year off by abstaining from alcohol for a month. Dry January traces its roots to a 1943 war time health campaign by the Finish government and was officially started in 2014 by British public health officials to address rising rates of alcohol related morbidity. The practice has picked up steam in recent years and participation grows with each January.
Every participant has their own reason for wanting to participate, including psychological, health, and even spiritual reasons. While the reasons for participating vary – experts are quite unified in the benefits that Dry January can have. According to Dr. Rekha B. Kumar, medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, after practicing Dry January one “might notice more pronounced physiologic effects… [including] more mental clarity, better sleep, [and] weight loss.” Additionally, Dry January is proven to create positive health habits. The University of Sussex found that 72% of participants who complete an alcohol free month sustain reduced levels of harmful drinking for at least 6 months.
My partner and I decided to take on the challenge of doing Dry January this year to begin our year with achieving a health goal. It has been much easier than expected to stay sober throughout the month.
Here are the biggest takeaways that we have for anybody interested in participating in Dry January:
- Do Dry January with a group of friends. This one was huge for me. Having both my partner and a handful of friends participate made abstaining an act of solidarity with friends. Everybody can benefit from an accountabilibuddy.
- Find non-alcoholic substitutes you enjoy. My head has always linked football and beer together so finding a great non-alcoholic beer has been pivotal to be sustaining Dry January during the NFL and CFB playoffs. There are so many great local options to try. Many of Vermont’s country stores have a wonderful selection of non-alcoholic beverages. Some Vermont breweries have even gotten in on the trend and have begun producing NA craft beer. Additionally, FreeSpiritsVT has a great list of local restaurants that have non-alcoholic cocktails on the menu.
- Plan fun substance free events. Windham County is full of wonderful COVID-friendly outdoor recreation opportunities. I have been using Rise Vermont’s winter activity guide to help plan fun local adventures.
- It doesn’t have to be January. Whether you are sober curious or just looking for a month-long challenge, it is important to remember that you can do a sober month any time of the year.
My experience with Dry January has been extremely rewarding. I truly think that I have gained valuable lessons that will help me make healthier choices in the future.
Jacob Deutsch
Community Project Coordinator, West River Valley Thrives