Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ONLINE FIRST
  • CURRENT ISSUE
  • ALL ISSUES
  • AUTHORS & REVIEWERS
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • BJGP LIFE
  • MORE
    • About BJGP
    • Conference
    • Advertising
    • eLetters
    • Alerts
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Librarian information
    • Resilience
    • COVID-19 Clinical Solutions
  • RCGP
    • BJGP for RCGP members
    • BJGP Open
    • RCGP eLearning
    • InnovAIT Journal
    • Jobs and careers

User menu

  • Subscriptions
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
British Journal of General Practice
Intended for Healthcare Professionals
  • RCGP
    • BJGP for RCGP members
    • BJGP Open
    • RCGP eLearning
    • InnovAIT Journal
    • Jobs and careers
  • Subscriptions
  • Alerts
  • Log in
  • Follow bjgp on Twitter
  • Visit bjgp on Facebook
  • Blog
  • Listen to BJGP podcast
  • Subscribe BJGP on YouTube
British Journal of General Practice
Intended for Healthcare Professionals

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ONLINE FIRST
  • CURRENT ISSUE
  • ALL ISSUES
  • AUTHORS & REVIEWERS
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • BJGP LIFE
  • MORE
    • About BJGP
    • Conference
    • Advertising
    • eLetters
    • Alerts
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Librarian information
    • Resilience
    • COVID-19 Clinical Solutions
Out of Hours

What is Dry January?

Jackie Ballard
British Journal of General Practice 2016; 66 (642): 32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp16X683173
Jackie Ballard
Alcohol Concern, London. E-mail:
Roles: Chief Executive
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: JBallard@alcoholconcern.org.uk
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info
  • eLetters
  • PDF
Loading

Dry January is now a household term, and as Alcohol Concern launches its Dry January campaign for the fourth year, we hope even more people will take part in 2016.

The aim of our campaign is to start a new conversation about alcohol, to encourage people to consider and discuss their alcohol consumption and ultimately, to inspire behaviour change following a positive and fun-filled month of sobriety.

Over the past 3 years, the impetus has grown with over 2 million people in the UK participating in Dry January in 2015.

To be absolutely clear; this challenge is not a detox or for those with dependency issues. Instead, it’s aimed at the huge numbers of people who are steadily drinking a bit too much, too often, (exceeding recommended guidelines of alcohol consumption1) without realising the effect it may be having on their health.

THE BENEFITS OF ABSTAINING FROM ALCOHOL

Participants testify to how great a month off from alcohol can be; they sleep better, have more energy, some lose weight and save money, and others notice improvements in their skin and hair.

More recently, research from the Royal Free Hospital in London2 has shown that there are positive physiological effects to be gained from taking part in Dry January. The study, performed on moderate drinkers (those drinking around the levels of recommended limits), has shown people experiencing improvements in concentration and sleep patterns, as well as having reduced cholesterol and lower glucose levels, lower blood pressure, weight loss overall, and losing 40% of their liver fat.

OUR CAMPAIGN REALLY WORKS

As a behaviour change campaign, Alcohol Concern offers support through online communities and an email programme, encouraging people to persevere throughout the month and offering them advice on non-alcoholic drink alternatives, and also opportunities to speak to health professionals.

Research has proven that Dry January is an effective behaviour change campaign. The campaign was independently evaluated in 2014 by the University of Sussex and found 72% of participants had sustained reduced levels of harmful drinking (drinking over recommended limits) 6 months after completing a month alcohol free.3

Drinking alcohol is deeply embedded in British culture, and it’s often the case people are quizzed about why they’re not drinking. Dry January gives people a great excuse/reason and the confidence to carry on saying no thanks to alcohol, even after January has ended.

ENCOURAGING PATIENTS TO GIVE DRY JANUARY A GO

GPs are on the front line. Every day they see patients who may be drinking at above the recommended levels, (although this may not always be obvious), and those whose visit may be alcohol related. Alcohol is linked to over 60 medical conditions, including cancer, diabetes, depression, and hypertension.4 Although it can be difficult asking patients about their drinking behaviour, Dry January is a great way to broach the topic in a nonthreatening way, nudge patients to consider their drinking levels and encourage them to cut down.

In fact, almost all patients seeking medical treatment would benefit from taking part in Dry January since:

  • In the cold and flu season, drinking alcohol won’t aid recovery and can disturb sleep;

  • Alcohol can negatively interact with medication;

  • Alcohol contributes to anxiety, low mood and depression, and Dry January is a great opportunity to encourage patients to look at lifestyle issues that may be affecting their wellbeing;

  • Cutting out alcohol can help people achieve weight loss goals; and

  • Over 10% of high blood pressure in men is alcohol related.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

You knew this was coming didn’t you? It’s not just patients who can benefit from Dry January, you can too, and ideally you’ll be leading the practice by example! So why not take the challenge at your practice and get everyone involved? After all, it will be easier to promote it to others if you’re doing it yourself.

You can sign yourself, other staff and patients up at www.dryjanuary.org.uk. Join in the conversation by following us on Twitter, @DryJanuary and liking us on Facebook.com/DryJanuary.

Figure

Alcohol Concern’s Dry January logo.

  • © British Journal of General Practice 2016

REFERENCES

  1. 1.↵
    Alcohol unit guidelines, https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/what-is-alcohol/daily-guidelines (accessed 2 Dec 2015).
  2. 2.↵
    1. Royal Free London,
    2. NHS Foundation Trust
    Dry January results “staggering” https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/news-media/news/dry-january-results-staggering/ (accessed 1 Dec 2015).
  3. 3.↵
    1. Alcohol Concern
    Academic research reveals Dry January leads to less drinking all year round, https://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/news/academic-research-reveals-dry-january-leads-less-drinking-year-round/ (accessed 1 Dec 2015).
  4. 4.↵
    1. World Health Organization
    Alcohol in the European Union Consumption, harm and policy approaches, http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/160680/e96457.pdf (accessed 1 Dec 2015).
Back to top
Previous ArticleNext Article

In this issue

British Journal of General Practice: 66 (642)
British Journal of General Practice
Vol. 66, Issue 642
January 2016
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Download PDF
Download PowerPoint
Email Article

Thank you for recommending British Journal of General Practice.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person to whom you are recommending the page knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
What is Dry January?
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from British Journal of General Practice
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from British Journal of General Practice.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
What is Dry January?
Jackie Ballard
British Journal of General Practice 2016; 66 (642): 32. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp16X683173

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

Share
What is Dry January?
Jackie Ballard
British Journal of General Practice 2016; 66 (642): 32. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp16X683173
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
  • Mendeley logo Mendeley

Jump to section

  • Top
  • Article
    • THE BENEFITS OF ABSTAINING FROM ALCOHOL
    • OUR CAMPAIGN REALLY WORKS
    • ENCOURAGING PATIENTS TO GIVE DRY JANUARY A GO
    • LEADING BY EXAMPLE
    • REFERENCES
  • Figures & Data
  • Info
  • eLetters
  • PDF

More in this TOC Section

  • Books: His Bloody Project. Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae
  • Yonder: Physician assistants, timewasting, nursing homes, and social media
  • The chronotherapy of hypertension: or the benefit of taking blood pressure tablets at bedtime
Show more Out of Hours

Related Articles

Cited By...

Intended for Healthcare Professionals

BJGP Life

BJGP Open

 

@BJGPjournal's Likes on Twitter

 
 

British Journal of General Practice

NAVIGATE

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • All Issues
  • Online First
  • Authors & reviewers

RCGP

  • BJGP for RCGP members
  • BJGP Open
  • RCGP eLearning
  • InnovAiT Journal
  • Jobs and careers

MY ACCOUNT

  • RCGP members' login
  • Subscriber login
  • Activate subscription
  • Terms and conditions

NEWS AND UPDATES

  • About BJGP
  • Alerts
  • RSS feeds
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

AUTHORS & REVIEWERS

  • Submit an article
  • Writing for BJGP: research
  • Writing for BJGP: other sections
  • BJGP editorial process & policies
  • BJGP ethical guidelines
  • Peer review for BJGP

CUSTOMER SERVICES

  • Advertising
  • Contact subscription agent
  • Copyright
  • Librarian information

CONTRIBUTE

  • BJGP Life
  • eLetters
  • Feedback

CONTACT US

BJGP Journal Office
RCGP
30 Euston Square
London NW1 2FB
Tel: +44 (0)20 3188 7400
Email: journal@rcgp.org.uk

British Journal of General Practice is an editorially-independent publication of the Royal College of General Practitioners
© 2023 British Journal of General Practice

Print ISSN: 0960-1643
Online ISSN: 1478-5242