For those of us who like a drink, giving up alcohol altogether may seem like an impossible task. This is why many people choose to participate in Dry January, as it's a much more manageable challenge. It's also a good opportunity to give your liver - and your bank balance - a much-needed break after what's usually a very busy festive period full of social gatherings and trips to the pub.
And while many decide to go back on the booze when February rolls around, one journalist extended her sobriety to last the rest of the year - and she learned a lot. READ MORE: 'I’m a 76-year-old weightlifter - these are my secrets to healthy ageing' Express writer Chanelle Georgina took part in Dry January back in 2021, and although she found it easy at first thanks to the lockdown at the time, she faced a few challenges later down the line. But she stuck it out, and said she returned to the booze for a very simple reason.
It was around April time when pub visits and social gatherings became acceptable again, and Chanelle said she was keen to 'impose a challenge' on herself by abstaining from alcohol. And despite some less-than-supportive attitudes from the people around her, she actually found it 'easier than anticipated'. But there was one thing in particular that really stuck out to her.
She wrote: "It was during this time of teetotalism that the British culture of drinking became glaringly obvious. I saw a drunk middle-aged woman falling off a chair outside a pub; her head smashed again.