Observing Dry January Has Many Benefits 

Dry January

Observing Dry January by abstaining or reducing alcohol consumption is a growing trend, and this year, Dry January may be needed more than ever.

According to Nielsen’s market data, total alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants have surged roughly 24% during the pandemic. Spirits with higher alcohol content rose more than 27% over last year.  These alcohol trends in the midst of the pandemic were despite evidence that alcohol has the ability to decrease immunity!

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon and breasts among women.

Women are at greater risk for some of the negative effects of booze, including absorbing more alcohol than men and taking longer to break it down. Also, women are more vulnerable to brain and heart damage then men from alcohol. Limiting alcohol has been listed as one of four simple New Year’s resolutions that will reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Dry January: Benefits

Another New Year’s resolution that is gaining traction is Dry January. Social mentions of the practice of stopping or reducing drinking for the month of January increased 1,083% from 2015 to 2019.

Dry January started in the United Kingdom by Alcohol Change in 2013 and has been growing worldwide ever since. It’s a New Year’s wellness trend that allows people to start the year clearer, more refreshed and safer. Alcohol Change estimates that four million people, or around 1 in 20 Britons, now participate each year.

Benefits of Observing Dry January

Abstaining from alcohol is not without benefits. Here are some of the bad effects of drinking alcohol:

  • Masks underlying depression and anxiety, making symptoms worse
  • Degrades sleep quality
  • Dehydrates and can spike blood sugar
  • Suppresses your body’s immune system

Here’s another bonus of observing Dry January that often goes unmentioned. When you stop drinking, you will not risk drinking and driving.

But you don’t have to give up tasty drinks altogether when observing Dry January. Town and Country magazine offers these recipes for delicious mocktails.

We Stand Against Drunk Driving

Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz is a community champion for putting an end to drunk driving. For three years, the firm has been a presenting sponsor for Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Walk Like MADD 5K walk and run, which raises money to ensure no one in our community suffers from the impacts of impaired drivers.

Our staff and attorneys see the impact of drunk driving through the clients we represent, reinforcing our advocacy for MADD. Nationally on average, two out of three people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime. If you or anyone you love is suffering from injuries from a drunk driving accident, our attorneys can help.