County Council backs campaign to take a break from the booze in January

Thousands of people nationwide are expected to take part in Dry January, choosing to stop drinking for one month to make a healthier start to the year and recover from indulgencies of the Christmas and New Year period.

By going 31 days without drinking, people will feel more energised, and will save money. Many people find that by stopping drinking for a month that they choose to continue to consume less alcohol for the rest of the year enjoying the benefits of sleeping better, feeling more alert and losing weight.

In Nottinghamshire, it is estimated that 21.2per cent of people are binge drinkers, which is slightly higher than the East Midlands regional average of 20.1%. By registering online for Dry January, participants will benefit from support, encouragement and advice through the month, and can share their experiences of Dry January with other people on social media.

Coun Joyce Bosnjak, chair of the Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board said:

“Many of us are guilty of maybe having too much in the festive period and January is a great time to take a bit of time out from that. Dry January isn’t about never drinking again, but it does offer a chance to re-evaluate our drinking habits.

“People often think they need to drink to have a good time, so going a few weeks without alcohol can be a welcome reminder that that doesn’t have to be the case.”

The Alcohol Concern Dry January campaign was launched on Black Friday (19 December), the Friday before Christmas when festive alcohol consumption reaches its peak.