More than 100 trying to stay dry in January
More than 100 islanders are known to have committed to the Try Dry January campaign, which encourages people to give up alcohol for the month.
First organised by the UK charity Alcohol Change in 2013, the Health Improvement Commission has taken it on board locally and set up a Try Dry Jan Gsy Facebook page to encourage people to take on the challenge.
Participants can download the Try Dry Alcohol Change UK app to help them alter their drinking patterns for the month, but also for the rest of the year.
‘Dry Jan is a great way to reset and allow the liver to have a break with some much-needed rest and recovery after the festive period,’ said HIC substance use lead Andrea Nightingale.
‘It doesn’t necessarily mean a dry rest of the year – though it could. It just gives us a chance to think about where we could cut back, how we feel without alcohol, hopefully less sluggish and more energised, and if we could do something new with any extra time or money, we have saved from not drinking.’
She said that this could perhaps lead to people being able to spend more quality time with family or friends at weekends, meet for breakfast, go for an early walk or gym class and have the rest of the day to enjoy.
‘With the fantastic variety of no and low alcohol drinks available now in pubs, off licences and supermarkets, we can still socialise without having the pressure of drinking alcohol,’ she said.
The commission is in the process of organising an alcohol-free event with health and wellbeing social media page The List and Mrs Nightingale said details would be provided soon.
While taking a month off can have a positive impact on body and mind, that might not be the case for regular heavy drinkers who stop completely. They are advised to contact their GP if in any doubt.
There are low-risk guidelines for heavy drinkers of having two or three alcohol-free days a week and not to drink more than 14 units during that time.
Mrs Nightingale said that 14 units could be remembered in the form of ‘6:7:6’ – six pints of medium strength lager/cider, or seven double measures of spirits, or six medium (175ml) glasses of wine.
The Facebook page is called Try Dry Jan GSY. For general information and to find the app, go to the Alcohol Change page
