08/01/2026
Dry January, a strategic step toward preventive health
After a festive season marked by indulgent meals and celebratory drinks, many individuals start the new year with a renewed focus on personal health. 'Dry January' offers an ideal opportunity to consciously abstain from alcohol, not as a temporary restriction, but as a proactive health intervention.
Even within a few days of alcohol cessation, the body begins to show measurable improvements: liver function recovers, sleep quality enhances, and the immune system becomes more resilient. Additionally, blood pressure and metabolic processes benefit significantly from this period of relief.
Dr. Richard de Visser, Reader in Psychology at the University of Sussex conducted research with more than 800 people who reported that:
📉 drinking days fell on average from 4.3 to 3.3 per week
📉 units consumed per drinking day dropped on average from 8.6 to 7.1
📉 frequency of being drunk dropped from 3.4 per month to 2.1 per month on average
More about the research:
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/47131
Rather than being a short-lived trend, Dry January serves as a catalyst for long-term behavioral change and can mark the beginning of a more health-conscious lifestyle.
