For five years – the date of its first launch in France – the Dry January challenge has invited the French to monitor their alcohol consumption by committing, during the 31 days of January, to do not drink wine, beer or any other alcoholic beverage.
This year too, the challenge brings together numerous participants, intrigued by the idea of questioning their relationship with alcohol and motivated by the idea of succeeding in their bet, whether it is not their first attempt or whether this the last one was a success or not. And that’s a good thing: according to Santé Publique France, In 2015, 41,000 deaths attributable to alcohol occurred in France. Studies show that alcohol, even consumed in low doses, is not without health risks.
But for Dry January participants, turning down every opportunity to drink for an entire month is no easy feat. How do you adjust your social life when everyone drinks and we don’t? Is the temptation to go back strong? Three readers agreed to talk to us about their choice to follow Dry January and what they expect from this challenge.
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“As we get older, we handle alcohol much less well”
For Eva*, 32 years old, doing Dry January was decided on a whim, after a slightly drunken New Year’s Eve.
“The next day I had a hangover and had absolutely no plans to start the year this way. As we age we tolerate alcohol much less, even in small quantities.. I must have had 3-4 glasses at most, but it was enough to give me a headache the next day. I want to avoid this state: spending the next day with a headache, doing nothing… The relationship between the good evening and the terrible tomorrow makes me want to try. I want to be able to enjoy the post-party days without feeling sick. »
The young woman, who describes herself as “someone quite competitive”she therefore decides to launch this challenge to herself, even though by her admission her relationship with alcohol is not problematic and is even “pretty classic”.
“Yes, I like to have a drink when I go out to dinner with my partner or friends. It can also happen to me and my partner to say to each other: ‘Hey, what if we bought a bottle of wine while having a nice dinner?’. I don’t know if this challenge will change my relationship with alcohol, as I don’t necessarily have a complicated relationship – at least I don’t think so. »
However, despite the same complicated relationship with alcohol, Eva has already had the opportunity to understand the difficulties of facing the challenge of Dry January for an entire month:
“I have already had the opportunity to refuse this famous glass of wine to accompany dinner with my partner, which surprised him a little. I don’t know if he thinks I’m capable of going a whole month without drinking, in any case he didn’t make any disparaging comments. » He also expects to be the subject of “tease” during dinners or events with friends.. «But what I find positive towards people who maybe don’t drink at all, is that there we will have this excuse of the month without alcohol, and that people won’t insist too much. »
Eva has no particular intention of making any changes to her social life for the month of January, although she enjoys the glass of wine she drinks on Friday evenings. “prize of the week ending” he misses him a little. “Maybe we’ll have to find something else satisfying, another little reward, I don’t know what it is yet. I haven’t tried the mocktails yet, which several friends have told me about. »
As for the effects, Eva, who is prone to migraines, hopes above all to reduce their frequency.
“I was told of other effects: thatwe feel better, we have more energy, we have more beautiful skin… By not consuming alcohol every day, I don’t know if I will see a big difference. »
Accepting this challenge still encourages her to get out more and take better care of herself. “What if I continue later? I do not know. Maybe not as drastically, but we’ll see. If I find other alternatives, I might continue the challenge. »
* The name has been changed.
Read also: I did Dry January and after a month my liver can bring my loved one back
“I want to find balance and a healthier routine”
Cyrine, for her part, is not her first dry January. The young 27-year-old has already attempted the experiment twice, with varying degrees of success.
“The first time I lasted 72 hours. The second one went quite well. But it was in the Covid era, so I went out less. »
This year Cyrine wants to take up the challenge again, “ to try to find a balance and a slightly healthier routine”.
“I would like to break this automatism that consists of always asking for a glass of wine when I’m at the bar. In short, I want to take control of myself.
This year I’m approaching it with less pressure, telling myself that the goal isn’t really to resist, but rather to test yourself and above all to try to change your mentality. This is also why I started on January 7th and not the 1st.um. I celebrated a friend’s birthday and left one last weekend to enjoy. »
Cyrine has the memory of having “you have lost a lot of weight (or, failing that, the curves around your stomach” during his first successful Dry January, even if that wasn’t his main motivation. He also fears the social pressure surrounding alcohol.
“One of the biggest difficulties it’s seeing that everyone around me is drinking, and then letting myself be tempted. »
“I have a relationship with alcohol at parties, which can sometimes be a bit problematic”
Adelaide also had a successful first experience with Dry January which inspired her to do it again this year. His main motivation? Be in health.
“I didn’t think I was this fit last year, during the whole month of January. JI went fishing every day of the month and on Sundays without a hangover. I was able to jog, go to the market, go for walks… My morale was also excellent and I lost two kilos quite easily, it’s really nice. »
Another benefit of quitting drinking for a month, according to the 42-year-old young woman: saving money.
“Before having my first Dry January, I was in a bit of denial, I didn’t want to know how much I was spending on alcohol. This year, with the money saved (€200-250 I think), I will give myself a gift, and it’s a really good motivation. A camera, a nice bag…”
Last year Adelaide experienced no particular difficulties during its first dry January, except perhaps “two evenings in which she didn’t feel so at home”she who was temporarily in abstinence. However, she was lucky enough to be able to count on a friend who also took part in the non-alcoholic challenge of the month..
“I remember a party at the apartment last year where we brought something to make non-alcoholic cocktails and had a lot of fun. We also launched a blind test so we could all have fun without having to resort to alcohol. It’s a super positive experience. »
To stay motivated, Adelaide too downloaded the Try Dry appwhich allows you to check the box every day “I didn’t drink alcohol”. “It’s very satisfying”comment.
Because quitting drinking also allows you to look at your relationship with alcohol more clearly. This is what happened for Adelaide:
“I have a relationship with alcohol on holidays but a bit problematic, I never say no to the last drink when the bar closes. Last year was the first time I went at least eight days without drinking alcohol. I don’t have kids, I drink every weekend and I have a problem, I have a hard time stopping. I’m quite the party girl, so my relationship with alcohol is complicated. I don’t have a hangover every weekend, but not by far, and the consequences are pretty tough.
I really like being with my friends, we go to bars, concerts… Alcohol is part of my life. Last year I told myself it would be nice to stop drinking completely, but right now I’m not quite ready. I don’t know if I could continue to have the social life I have if I stopped drinking alcohol altogether.. I would like to ask myself this, in any case these are questions I ask myself. One day I’ll probably stop completely. »
It is also because her first dry January made her aware of her consumption that Adelaide repeats this challenge this year:
“I realised, watching others drink, how many drinks I was having myself and it scared me. I was thinking mostly of all those useless drinks I automatically took. This allowed me to adjust my consumption for the rest of the year. »
Are you also having Dry January? Tell us your experience in the comments!
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
