As a new year begins, more and more people are choosing to take part in “Dry January,” a month where they stop drinking alcohol.
This popular challenge is not just a trend — research shows that it can come with real health benefits and might even help people drink less in the long run.
A new study reviewed 16 past studies involving over 150,000 people who tried Dry January. The review was done by researchers at Brown University’s School of Public Health and its Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies.
They wanted to understand who joins the challenge, what changes they experience, and what helps them succeed.
The results were very promising. People who stopped drinking for just one month reported sleeping better, feeling happier, losing weight, and having more energy.
Some even showed signs of better liver health and lower blood pressure. Even those who didn’t completely stop drinking but just cut back still saw some of these benefits.
One big finding was that many people who completed Dry January kept drinking less even after the month ended. Instead of going back to drinking heavily, they kept their alcohol use lower. This shows that taking a break can help people think about how drinking affects their health, their mood, and their relationships.
Dry January started in the United Kingdom in 2013. At first, only about 4,000 people signed up. Now, millions take part each year. More people are also choosing to live without alcohol. A recent Gallup poll showed that only 54% of adults in the U.S. say they drink alcohol — the lowest number ever recorded in this poll.
Experts say it’s easier than ever to try an alcohol-free lifestyle. It’s more socially acceptable, and many social media influencers are talking openly about how not drinking has helped their mental and physical health. This change in attitude is helping people feel more comfortable with the idea of cutting back or quitting alcohol.
The study found that people who signed up on the Dry January website or used tools like the Try Dry app or coaching emails were more likely to finish the challenge and keep drinking less afterward. These tools gave people support and reminders that helped them stay on track.
Most people who joined Dry January were younger, female, had higher incomes, and went to college. Many were also heavy drinkers — a group that’s usually harder to reach with regular health programs. That makes this campaign even more valuable because it helps people who may need it most.
There were some downsides, too. A small number of people who didn’t finish the challenge ended up drinking more afterward. But overall, the benefits were clear. The researchers suggest reaching more people by working with influencers, making the campaign more diverse, and giving people better tools to set goals and stay motivated.
They also recommend more research in the U.S. and on “Damp January,” where people just reduce drinking instead of stopping completely.
One of the researchers, Suzanne Colby, said the most important message is that Dry January should be seen as a positive experience. She even tried it herself and felt the benefits.
If you care about alcoholism, please read studies that your age may decide whether alcohol is good or bad for you, and people over 40 need to prevent dangerous alcohol/drug interactions.
For more information about alcohol, please see recent studies about moderate alcohol drinking linked to high blood pressure, and results showing this drug combo shows promise for treating alcoholism.
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