Banish the booze for Dry January!

With only days until the start of Dry January, Medical Specialistsׅ® Pharmacy are urging as many of the nation’s drinkers as possible to take part in the annual month-long awareness event.

By giving up alcohol for 4 weeks during the first month of the year, drinkers will hopefully be able to change their habits for the long-term, similar to the premise of October’s Stoptober smoking campaign, where some participants manage to quit smoking altogether after the month of abstinence.

For Dry January 2015, more than 2 million people managed to reduce their alcohol intake for the month, and it is expected that 2016 will be bigger, better, with more people getting on board, so join in and reap the rewards of giving up booze for the 31 days of January.

There are simply countless benefits from either cutting back on alcohol or stopping entirely, from weight loss to a better night’s sleep and more energy in general, to more cash to spend on other things – there is nothing to lose by taking part in Dry January 2016! The sense of achievement to be had from completing the month will be huge, and the chances will be much greater of drinking less alcohol in the future even after Dry January is over.

But don’t take it from us, NHS Choices have published the experiences of a woman named Joanna, who previously was drinking glasses of wine every night, but managed to abstain from alcohol for the entire month of January.

She says: “…After two weeks the cold turkey wore off, and the first benefits kicked in. I was in bed snoring shamelessly before 10 and was awake before the alarm at 6.15am. My skin was looking better. I had more energy, and was proud of myself for sticking at it.

“Although weight loss wasn’t a decisive factor for me, I lost 5lbs (2.3kg) in the first month and I have now lost nearly 10lbs and banished three inches (7.5cm) of muffin top from my waistline. Like many other people on Dry January’s page, my problem was the inexplicable desire to replace my evening dose of wine with snacks in front of the TV.

“Yet in the long run, less wine meant less nibbles. I realised how alcohol opened up my appetite and made me reach for those salty nibbles…”

Joanna’s weight loss is perhaps unsurprising, considering the often under-estimated calories contained in some of the most popular alcoholic beverages:

Pint of 4% beer: Equates to about 182 calories and 2.3 units of alcohol, rising depending on alcohol strength.

Small glass of 13% wine: A 175ml glass equals 159 calories and 2.3 units, varying depending on the strength of the wine (this can be anything from 11% to 16%).

Bottle of beer: A 330ml bottle contains about 159 calories and 2.3 units.

Pint of 4.5% cider: 216 calories and 2.6 units of alcohol.

A single 40% spirit: A Standard English 25ml measure has 61 calories and 1 unit. However, in Northern Ireland, a single measure comes in at 35ml and in 1.4 units.

At Medical Specialists® we understand how difficult it can be to giving up alcohol, but hopefully after a heavy festive period of over-indulgence of both food and alcohol, it should make it that little bit easier to participate in Dry January.

For example, the Friday before Christmas – often dubbed ‘booze Black Friday’ or ‘Mad Friday’ is one of the busiest, hectic drinking nights of the year as Emergency Services prepare for a chaotic night. Last year saw alcohol takings surge in pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels across the country by a whopping 142%, and that’s not taking into account sales from shops and supermarkets.

Then there is Christmas Eve, Christmas Day itself, Boxing Day…and finally, New Year’s Eve! By the first day of January, some people are truly feeling the effects of the alcohol excess over the festive period and wanting to take a break for January.

For those deciding to take the plunge, here are some top tips for giving up the booze:

Avoid temptation


Initially, it is wise to avoid situations where alcohol is involved. Perhaps opt out of the weekly quiz at the pub, or persuade friends to meet up for a trip to the cinema or bowling during January instead of the usual drink at the pub.

Clear the house

Not of everything in it! Just the booze. Hide away those bottles of beer or the filled-up wine rack. By removing the temptation this will help stick to not drinking. Nobody during Dry January wants to come home from a stressful day at work and see alcohol staring back of them. Out of sight, out of mind!

Encourage a friend

Being the only one in a social circle that isn’t drinking for the first month of the year can seem daunting. Considering asking a friend if they want to take on the challenge too will make it easier to complete, don’t forget to remind them of the wonderful benefits of not drinking!

Make others aware

If someone is taking part in Dry January, they should tell friends and family about it, with the reasons for getting involved. This way, that person can share successes with the friends and family, and they will understand why that person is rejecting drinks or trips to the pub. This may even encourage someone else to give up or cut down too.

Treat yourself

It’s amazing how much healthier a bank balance and wallet can look when there is no alcohol to be bought. A typical pint of beer can cost upwards of £4…just 5 pints in an evening can set someone back around £20! That money could be put to better use, whether it’s saving up for a holiday or an expensive pair of shoes, the extra cash will help loads!

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are fully behind the Dry January campaign, already seeing an increase in enquiries about alcohol dependency treatment Selincro during the last few weeks, as thousands of people around the country prepare for an alcohol-free month.

So why not sign up today for Dry January, receiving useful and fun hints and tips throughout the month to help completion right through to the end of the month.

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy inundated for Selincro requests for Dry January

Now that the festive work office party, Black Friday, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are firmly out of the way, many will now be taking stock of exactly how much alcohol they have drank during the last few weeks, with some people undoubtedly thinking about cutting down on drinking.

With the beginning of a New Year, there is never a better time than now to put into action the process of reducing alcohol intake, or even stopping drinking for good, and much of the country will no doubt have ‘cut down on boozing’ near the top of their list of resolutions. Another popular choice of resolution is ‘lose weight’ and reducing alcohol intake can actually help to reach this goal due to the high amount of calories in alcohol.

In addition to January being the month when the nation usually kick-starts their resolutions, the first month of the year is also known as ‘Dry January’ due to the annual campaign of the same name, pioneered by the small national charity Alcohol Concern, who challenge all drinkers to abstain from booze for the entire 31 days of January.

Yes, that means no quick cheeky pint after work with colleagues, or an ‘unwinding’ glass of wine with an evening meal, or a heavy session out on the town with mates. It should be remembered though that this is an awareness raising campaign and a fundraiser for Alcohol Concern. It is not a medical detox programme and those with severe drinking problems may need to go to a hospital or clinic to detox as the withdrawal symptoms will be severe and probably require specialist treatment.
For those that do undertake the Dry January challenge, there will be plenty of benefits to be felt in the short-term. Abstainers could look forward to better sleep, weight loss, a boost in skin and hair quality, and let’s not forget all the money saved from not spending it on alcohol – just think of all the other things that can be bought with the extra pennies! As it is only a month off the booze, it is unlikely that any major change in liver function will occur in the 31 days though.

However, everybody needs a break at times, and the human body is no different. Therefore, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy encourage the nation to get on board with Dry January and it may even have a positive effect to future drinking habits. Research has shown that those who successfully complete the challenge actually manage to cut down on their drinking in the future, drinking less alcohol each day, getting into a drunken state less frequently and having more willpower to be able to say “no” to having an alcoholic drink.

It is not just members of the general public though that are seemingly embracing Dry January. One famous face has surprisingly decided to test himself and see if he go 31 days without any alcohol. UKip leader Nigel Farage is the famous face in question, deciding to go teetotal for the first month of the year.

Farage is possibly the most surprising celebrity banishing the booze for a month considering the controversial politician – even during campaigning – is often snapped joyously at the pub with a glass of ale in his hand, perhaps helping his image as a more approachable and jolly party leader. However, like many of us, Farage has admitted to a season of overindulgence and has now temporarily given up drink. Speaking to Sky News, he said: “I started before the New Year. I’m not being particularly virtuous, it’s just I need a break. It does us all good to have a break now and then.”

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are fully behind the Dry January campaign, and have already witnessed a huge surge in the requests for alcohol dependency treatment Selincro during the last few weeks especially, as thousands around the country prepare for a dry month. However, we understand that this can be difficult for some to achieve without some motivation, which is why Alcohol Concern have provided a unit calculator on their website. All people need to do is tally up the number of drinks they have consumed, say on a typical Friday or Saturday night out, and see the probable alarming number of units and calories this equates to. As many look to lose weight in the New Year following the Christmas excesses, seeing the shocking total calories that drinking adds will no doubt provide the final motivation to truly achieve a completely dry January!