Wow! When we saw this list we were pretty amazed. I mean, how many of us reach for a glass of wine to help us unwind and sleep better after a stressful day? Who knew it does the exact opposite and totally messes up our sleep patterns?
It’s also important to remember that routine and habit are often drivers of our drinking habits. Who loves a glass of wine when they’re cooking, or a G&T while enjoying a bubble bath? Who doesn’t love a cold beer after work on a hot summer evening? Who couldn’t consider going out for a meal without sharing a bottle of wine. Who believes the idea of a celebration without a glass of fizz is unthinkable?
It’s easily done. The National Institutes of Health research also showed that over 25% of people reported drinking more during lockdown. The research indicated that drinking more during lockdown was independently associated with being younger, having post 16yo education qualifications, household income over £30,000, being significantly stressed about catching or becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, being significantly stressed about finances or having a diagnosed anxiety disorder.
It’s interesting stuff, but we should also note that many of these factors are not isolated to lockdown times and can happen at any time.
Are you convinced yet?
If not, here’s a few additional facts and figures to help you to decide if Dry January, or Dry Any Other Time of the Year, might appeal to you…
So, cutting back on overall alcohol intake, or giving up for a period of time reduces your risk of over 60 health conditions. Alcohol is the biggest risk factor for death, ill health and disability for those aged 15-49 in the UK - so taking a little booze holiday may be well worth the effort!
We’d love to hear your experiences of Dry January too, so please let us know why you decided to try, how you feel and most of all, what creative concoctions you came up with to fill your glasses instead of alcohol!