Huge health benefits for "dry days" in January, says Uni of Sussex psychologist
Richard de Visser, whose research helped create Dry January, says a month isn't always necessary to overhaul our health
A University of Sussex psychologist whose initial research helped create Dry January says we could feel huge health benefits even if we don't commit to a whole month drink-free.
Richard de Visser's research in 2015 found that a month without alcohol means we are more likely to cut down on drinking for good, as well as reap rewards such as healthier skin, weight loss and better sleep.
However, he's since revealed that even choosing to do just a few "dry days" in January can be a huge help in building healthy habits that last the entire year.
He said people often don't realise the impact of casual drinking habits:
"There's a lot of concern about binge drinking, you know, going out and really getting drunk.
"What people often don't realise is that the everyday drinking still does add up in terms of it harm.
He continued that going "dry" gives people a "different kind of experience", which means they're less likely to reach for a drink in the long run:
"If you meet up with friends and, instead of meeting at the pub, you meet in a cafe instead, alcohol's just not involved.
"The skills that people need to resist the temptation or the urge, that doesn't just pop like a bubble at the end of January, that's something they carry on with them.
"It helps to explain why a lot of people do drink less because they've learned something about their own drinking.
"They've learned some skills themselves or what to say to people if they get offered a drink.
"And if they want to keep on doing that, then they've got that."
De Visser advised anyone looking to take on the full challenge to sign up on the Dry January app, rather than facing it alone.
"One of the things that we've really found is that that people who register either through the website or through the try dry app are much more likely to make it through the month.
"It's almost twice as likely to make it through the month without drinking. I think there's that kind of psychological thing about being part of something bigger."