Hartlepool residents encouraged to ditch the booze for Dry January

Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK reset their drinking habits by taking a 31-day break from alcohol in January each year using the free tools and resources provided by Alcohol Change UK.

The Dry January challenge offers immediate health and wellbeing benefits including better sleep, more energy and improved mood, while reducing blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes risk and cancer-related proteins in the blood.

It also boosts bank balances - 86% of past participants report saving money with an average saving of £118 for the month.

To help as many people as possible have a successful 31 days alcohol-free and get the maximum benefit, Alcohol Change UK offers people a range of tools and resources, including the free Try Dry app, daily coaching emails and an online community for encouragement.

Available all year round, the Try Dry app allows participants to work out their current drinking risk score and set personalised goals in the run up to the Dry January challenge, before logging dry days, calories and money saved, earning badges for going alcohol-free at activities where they might usually drink, and receiving daily tips and motivation.

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of the Hartlepool Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “We all enjoy a celebration but people can get carried away and drink too much over the Christmas and New Year, harming their health.

“We’re encouraging people to take the Dry January challenge and see how much better they feel after a drink-free month.

“Research has found that those taking part using Alcohol Change UK’s resources double their chances of a successful alcohol-free month compared with those trying to avoid alcohol on their own.

“What’s more, 70% of Dry January challenge participants still experience significantly improved wellbeing six months later, along with reduced long-term alcohol-related health risks. So why not give it a go!”

Dr Richard Piper, Chief Executive Officer of Alcohol Change UK, said: “The New Year offers all of us an opportunity to reflect and set our goals for the 12 months ahead. Increasingly, for many people, this includes a desire to improve our relationship with alcohol.

“That’s because there is a growing recognition of alcohol’s impact on our health, wellbeing and quality of life - from headaches, sleepless nights and feeling ‘off’ the next day, to high blood pressure, anxiety and cancer. These wide-ranging impacts affect so many of us.

“Our free, premium mobile app Try Dry is jam-packed with features to help you track your progress and stay motivated - and it’s ad-free.

“Not only does it deliver a collection of health and wellbeing benefits, but the Dry January challenge shows us we don’t need alcohol to have fun, relax or socialise while equipping us with the skills and confidence to take back control of our drinking over the long-term.

“More than one million people have downloaded our Try Dry app since 2019, so why not download it and double your chances of a successful 31-days alcohol free this January?”

To find out more about the Dry January challenge, including how to take part and download the Try Dry app, visit www.dryjanuary.org.uk.

** Important advice on alcohol withdrawal **

If you drink very heavily or regularly, the Dry January challenge may not be for you. People who are clinically alcohol dependent can die if they suddenly, completely stop drinking. If you experience fits, shaking hands, sweating, seeing things that are not real, depression, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping after a period of drinking and while sobering up, then you may be clinically alcohol dependent and should NOT suddenly, completely stop drinking.

But you can still take control of your drinking. Talk to a GP or your local community alcohol service who will be able to get help for you to reduce your drinking safely. Find out more on the Alcohol Change UK website alcoholchange.org.uk.