Taking a break from alcohol
You don’t have to have a problem with alcohol to want a break from it. Plenty of people take a month off to feel better, save money, train for something, or just see what life is like without it.
Dry January, Sober October and the rest
Dry January, run by Alcohol Change UK, is the best known: a month without alcohol after the festive season. Sober October, Macmillan Cancer Support’s fundraiser, does the same in the autumn. Some people choose their own month, or a set number of days, such as 30, 100 or a whole year.
Sober curious
Being sober curious means noticing how alcohol fits into your life and trying things with less of it, or none at all, without needing a label. It’s about choice, not rules.
What a month off can do
In a study of moderate-to-heavy drinkers who stopped for a month, blood pressure fell by about 6%, insulin resistance by about a quarter and weight by about 1.5%, on average. University of Sussex research on Dry January found most people said they slept better, had more energy and saved money, and many were still drinking less months later.
Tips for getting through it
- Decide your dates in advance and tell a friend, or do it together.
- Stock up on drinks you enjoy that aren’t alcohol.
- Plan your first weekend: it’s usually the trickiest.
- Count what you’re saving. Watching the money add up keeps you going.
- If you slip, carry on. One drink doesn’t cancel the month.
At the end, take a moment to notice how you feel, and decide what’s next: going back to how things were, drinking less, or keeping going. What to expect in your first 30 days.
Sources: Mehta et al., BMJ Open 2018; de Visser and colleagues, University of Sussex; Alcohol Change UK; Macmillan Cancer Support.
Questions people ask
What are the benefits of a month off alcohol?
Many people sleep better, have more energy and save money. In one study of moderate-to-heavy drinkers who stopped for a month, blood pressure, insulin resistance and weight all fell on average.
What does sober curious mean?
Being sober curious means questioning your drinking and trying life with less or no alcohol, without needing a label or a reason. The phrase was popularised by Ruby Warrington’s book Sober Curious.
Do people drink less after Dry January?
University of Sussex research found that many people who took part in Dry January were still drinking less months later, and most said they slept better, had more energy and saved money.
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