Study shows that Dry January is an utter waste of time
So you've pigged out over Christmas and think the best way to ease your guilt would be to take part in dry January?! It's a good idea in theory - give up booze for a bit, give yourself a health kick. But just how effective is dry January? As it so happens, it's an absolute waste of time.
Studies have shown that abstaining from booze for a month won't actually have any benefit to your health whatsoever, at least according to Dr. Ian Hamilton, a lecturer in mental wellbeing in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York. Here's what he had to say:
People think having done Dry January, that’s it, job done and now for the rest of the year I can just return to my normal habits.I think what would be more beneficial to the vast majority of people is to try and go for two or three sober days a week throughout the year where they abstain from alcohol, rather than trying to fit it all in to one month.My main concern is not what benefits people see during January, but what they will do to their body’s after completing the challenge.
If there was ever a better excuse for not taking part in dry January, this is it. Plus you get to wipe the smug smiles off the faces of those who think they're so high and mighty for not drinking. Being teetotal doesn't make you cool, it makes you dull!
