Having a month free of alcohol can have a range of effects on your body, from the first days of sobriety, to several months later
First we had Dry January, then came Sober October. It can feel like its hard to avoid campaigns urging us to take on one of theseIn the UK, the idea of a month off drinking has become linked with two different causes. Alcohol Change UK, then called Alcohol Concern, began promoting the idea of Dry January in 2013, and now encourages people to take part by using its dedicated app.
So, alcohol researchers have taken the chance to study how this kind of sudden lifestyle change affects the body, both in the short and longer term.For some people the first and most obvious benefit from giving up drink for a month is the lack of hangovers, said Joe Marley of Alcohol Change UK. People may also notice changes to their sleep. Alcohol helps people fall asleep more quickly but can lead to more disturbed sleep later in the night.
This was probably not just due to people’s weight loss, as nearly everyone saw their blood pressure fall, even those who didn’t lose weight.Sceptics might question how much point there is in getting these kinds of health benefits if they only last for one month. But a further study suggests that just taking part in the one-month exercise could encourage people to cut down.
The idea of a “reset” is just one reason why some people take on the challenge, said Mr Marley. “Lots of people decide to take a break from drinking just to experiment and to take that reset moment,” he said. “And there is growing awareness of the impact that alcohol has on many areas of our health – not just those long-term health conditions, but day to day as well.”Another note of caution is that anyone who is a heavy drinker and may be dependent on alcohol is advised not to go cold turkey.
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