Dry January can be more than a yearly challenge.
Dr. George F. Koob, Director of the National Insitute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) encouraged more people to reflect on their drinking habits over the holiday season.
“I’ll give you my bottom line which is, if you feel better when you’re not drinking then you should listen to your body because your body is trying to tell you something,” explained Koob.
Many people enjoy celebrating the holidays with some drinks. However, people are also more likely to over-indulge when it comes to alcohol consumption during this time of the year.
He shared that Dry January can give people a chance to reflect on their recent alcohol-related behaviors since they can affect moods and actions.
For example, alcohol can cause some people to become angry and get into fights, as well as impair their eyesight and cause car crashes.
“It extends from overdoing it with sporting events where everything turns into a prolonged tailgating party, or maybe you go out to dinner with friends or you go to an office party and you overindulge,” said Koob. “You can embarrass yourself or embarrass your significant other and those are some signs over the holidays that something’s not quite right.”
In the U.S. alcohol-related problems are one of the country’s most significant public health issues and contribute to over 200 diseases and injuries.
The NIAAA reported that more than 178,000 deaths every year are attributed to excessive alcohol use.
Those who find themselves excessively thinking about when their next drink will be or find themselves craving alcohol might be experiencing symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
“One of the most sensitive measures is a deterioration in social interactions so if things aren’t going so well when you’ve been drinking with family members or colleagues, then you know, it’s something you should pay attention to,” explained Koob.
Dry January can provide a one-month break from alcohol for people looking to limit their alcohol consumption and practice healthier drinking habits in the new year.
He says that those taking a break from alcohol can experience a multitude of health benefits such as improved sleep, more energy and weight loss with the additional perk of saving money.
“The benefits extend to everything from physiological conditions to behavioral issues,” said Koob.
People looking to practice healthy drinking habits or avoid drinking altogether can:
- insist on non-alcoholic drinks being available at a party or function
- try mocktails, which are cocktails that don’t include any alcohol
- try new non-alcoholic beverages like Michelob ULTRA Zero, Athletic Brewing Company and others
- try a dry bar, which is a bar that doesn’t serve alcoholic drinks
- practice being firm when declining alcohol
Overall, Koob feels positive about the future of drinking culture as underage drinking has drastically decreased over time.
“It’s just straight-line decreased over the last 20 years and I find that incredibly encouraging,” he said. “It points to a healthier lifestyle in general for young people, which ultimately points to a healthier lifestyle when they get older.”
More information on healthy alcohol consumption can be found on the NIAAA website.
