Dry January.

[Carole]

Well I sort of did it ....its the 29th and I now have a glass of wine in front of me.

Not had anything since New Years Eve and since then I have had a sober social committee meeting at my house with the others knocking back the wine. Me on water

Then had the night in Birmingham with a meal before the Strictly live show ...me on water.

Then last Sat ..Pastiche and Comedy at The Met. 10 of us all drinking. Me on water.

I got seriously bored half way through, not helped by the articles I read that its not really beneficial to do dry Jan ( this is my 3rd year ) but just 2 days a week abstaining is enough.

But I had made my pact and (almost ) stuck to it.

Next year I am doing Moist Jan. (not drinking in the week)

 

[Bob]

Anyone else on the dry January this year?

I did it in 2018 and it wasn’t so bad, so I’m going for round 2.

 

[staffordjas]

Anyone else on the dry January this year?

I did it in 2018 and it wasn’t so bad, so I’m going for round 2.

With meals and nights out planned for mine and sons birthdays on the 2nd & 9th , we'll have to attempt a 'Dry 10th january - 10th feb instead .

 

[Theresa Green]

Other sherries are available

 

[SketchyMagpie]

@staffordjas I feel your pain, my birthday is the 10th. I wish people would do this in a different month each year rather than always in January because it means it's impossible to ever plan any nights out when people don't want to even be around alcohol in case their self-control fails them.

 

[proactive]

Just like every other January, I will not be taking part.

 

[staffordjas]

I vowed this morning that I'd have a 'dry 28th December' ....after just receiving the post with good mammogram results hubby's decided we'll go to the pub to celebrate....

 

[Mudgie]

With meals and nights out planned for mine and sons birthdays on the 2nd & 9th , we'll have to attempt a 'Dry 10th january - 10th feb instead .

Would a Dry 10th January suffice ?

 

[staffordjas]

Would a Dry 10th January suffice ?

That might work , might be able to stick to that if I have a skinful on my b'day night out ...

 

[Noah]

Not something I would wish to try. But with the situation now, whatever you are drinking, pubs need your support anyway.

 

[Thehooperman]

I don't see the point of not drinking alcohol for just one month.

If you're going to give up or even just cut down then do for good not just to be "trendy".

 

[SketchyMagpie]

I've never been enough of a drinker that I ever needed to go "dry", but I can sort of understand it... I think the idea that lots of people are doing it gives you encouragement and there's also an element of public commitment which is a great motivator. I'd say someone who has enough of a drink problem to need to take a month off is probably more likely to succeed under those circumstances than just trying to do it themselves at a random point in the year.

 

[Thehooperman]

I've never been enough of a drinker that I ever needed to go "dry", but I can sort of understand it... I think the idea that lots of people are doing it gives you encouragement and there's also an element of public commitment which is a great motivator. I'd say someone who has enough of a drink problem to need to take a month off is probably more likely to succeed under those circumstances than just trying to do it themselves at a random point in the year.

I totally agree with what you are saying. The point I was making was that I think it needs more of a long term commitment rather than stopping for one month then reverting back to previous habits for the next 11 months.

 

[SketchyMagpie]

Oh yeah for sure!

 

[Mudgie]

I've never been enough of a drinker that I ever needed to go "dry", but I can sort of understand it... I think the idea that lots of people are doing it gives you encouragement and there's also an element of public commitment which is a great motivator. I'd say someone who has enough of a drink problem to need to take a month off is probably more likely to succeed under those circumstances than just trying to do it themselves at a random point in the year.

I don't understand "the idea that lots of people are doing it gives you encouragement" or "there's also an element of public commitment which is a great motivator".
And I doubt if "someone who has enough of a drink problem" is likely to try, let alone succeed with, such an initiative.

 

[Lucy]

I think a lot more people have 'enough of a drink problem' than we actually admit.

 

[Gramaisc]

People that I know who do it have two general reasons - they want to drop the average* from the December excesses and they 'lock themselves in' by using the 'challenge' to raise a bit of charity cash**.

* Both units imbibed and pounds spent.

** People do seem to be more inclined to donate if they can see somebody suffering for it.

 

[SketchyMagpie]

I don't understand "the idea that lots of people are doing it gives you encouragement" or "there's also an element of public commitment which is a great motivator".
And I doubt if "someone who has enough of a drink problem" is likely to try, let alone succeed with, such an initiative.

I mean, I've literally seen people with alcohol dependecy problems doing this and succeeding every year for about a decade. Probably a dozen who I know personally and I hear about others via various communities. They cite the group participation and encouragement as a big factor.

I find it odd that you think people who drink enough that taking a month off is a big deal would not take part in a very popular thing that's aimed precisely at people who drink enough that taking a month off is a big deal. Who else would be doing it?!

I can't do it because I don't drink enough that a month covers the normal time that elapses between pints. I'd have to greatly increase my alcohol intake for the other 11 months in order to say I was taking that 1 off!

 

[Mudgie]

I mean, I've literally seen people with alcohol dependecy problems doing this and succeeding every year for about a decade. Probably a dozen who I know personally and I hear about others via various communities. They cite the group participation and encouragement as a big factor.

I find it odd that you think people who drink enough that taking a month off is a big deal would not take part in a very popular thing that's aimed precisely at people who drink enough that taking a month off is a big deal. Who else would be doing it?!

I can't do it because I don't drink enough that a month covers the normal time that elapses between pints. I'd have to greatly increase my alcohol intake for the other 11 months in order to say I was taking that 1 off!

Yes, there are people with alcohol dependency problems that need help and that used to be a function of the NHS, Weston Villa at St Georges doing well with group participation and other initiatives. Now it's 'care in the community' and initiatives like this that are far less likely to benefit those who need it.
It's more about whether there's any sense in not imbibing during January than whether it's "a big deal". I see no sense in a moderate drinker like myself taking part, especially when there's pubs, often the heart of the community, struggling to remain open because of increased costs and fewer customers since Covid.
And don't forget that as alcohol consumption decreases the use of illegal drugs increases. I'd rather have a pint or two in good company in the Judge and Jury or Hogarths than join all those cannabis users across in Castletown.

 

[SketchyMagpie]

Oh yeah, for sure, it definitely isn't the best way to go about reducing your alcohol intake.

Really the best outcome would be for people to embrace the growing range of zero alcohol drinks if they're going to do it so they can still go out and support pubs etc. I had a few cans of Beavertown's Lazer Crush over Christmas, found that quite satisfying... I swear my stupid brain even thinks I'm getting tipsy if I have couple of them.