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 these alcohol health challenges, giving up booze for a month. For some, such a test might be taken on as an intriguing personal challenge , while for others it may be an attempt to counter concerns that they are drinking too much .
In 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. Macmillan Cancer Support promotes Sober October, focusing more on people finding sponsors to raise funds for cancer research by ditching alcohol, although the charity also highlights the knock-on health benefits for those taking part.
But the idea of going sober for a month has been around for a while – and there are similar campaigns in other parts of the world. Australia, for instance, has an initiative called “Ocsober”, while many countries have their own Dry January campaigns. 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.
First days 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 quickl.
