More people than ever (over 7.9 million people) are planning to go alcohol-free this January – and 1 in 3 would prefer to take part in Dry January®
• One in six (18%) adults who drink alcohol are planning to have a month off drinking in January, or one in seven (15%) of all UK adults.
• One in three of those planning to take a break would prefer to take part in Dry January®, rather than trying to give up alcohol on their own for January.
• Taking part in Dry January® using the tools and resources provided by Alcohol Change UK doubles your chance of a totally alcohol-free month, compared to trying to give up alcohol on your own for January.
• Almost three in 10 drinkers (28%) have found themselves drinking more in 2021, compared to 2020, and one in four (25%) would like to cut down.
One in six (18%) adults who drink alcohol are planning to have a month off drinking for January 2022, or one in seven (15%) of all UK adults. This is estimated at 7.9 million UK adults – up from an estimated 6.5 million last year, a 22% increase.1
The new research published today by Alcohol Change UK, the charity that created and runs Dry January® shows that almost three in 10 drinkers (28%) have found themselves drinking more in 2021, compared to 2020. Around one in six drinkers (17%) feel concerned about the amount they have been drinking since the removal of COVID-19 restrictions in the summer, and a quarter (25%) would like to reduce the amount they drink in 2022.
The survey shows that for those planning to have a month off alcohol for January, around one in three (30%) would prefer to take part in the Dry January® campaign by using the tools and resources provided by Alcohol Change UK, rather than trying to give up alcohol on their own in January. Alcohol Change UK is encouraging people to download the free app, Try Dry®, to take part in Dry January® and double their chances of a successful alcohol-free month.
Research by the University of Sussex published in 20202 found that those who take part in Dry January® via Alcohol Change UK’s free Try Dry® app and/or free email coaching programme are twice as likely to have a completely alcohol-free month, compared to those who try to avoid alcohol in January on their own, and have significantly improved wellbeing and healthier drinking six months later.
This desire for support is particularly evident for those drinking at increasing and higher risk levels – who are the people most likely to benefit from taking part in Dry January® according to research.3
Increasing risk drinkers were most likely to have tried methods to manage their drinking (61%) in the past six months, followed by high-risk drinkers (52%), with low-risk drinkers being the least likely (35%). (Lower risk drink is not regularly consuming more than 14 units per week. Increasing risk drinking is 15 to 34 units a week for women, or 15 to 49 a week for men. High risk drinking is anything above that level.)
When looking at strategies used to manage their drinking, increasing risk drinkers are more likely than low- or high-risk drinkers to have tried the following methods to help them cut down: having some alcohol-free days (32%), weeks or months (12%); drinking alcohol-free alternatives (11%); not keeping alcohol in the house (8%); attending support groups (6%); or seeking support from friends and family (3%).
Whereas high-risk drinkers were more likely than low- or increasing risk drinkers to use strategies centred around trying to drink less when they drink (volume (23%) and strength (11%)); look for advice online (13%); receive one-to-one counselling (7%); and use an app to monitor their drinking (7%).
The survey also shows that people are more likely to take part in Dry January® if a friend or relative is doing it too (22%), or if they could raise money for an alcohol harm charity (14%).
Dr Richard Piper, Chief Executive of Alcohol Change UK, said:
“We know that things are feeling uncertain at the moment and some of us will be looking for ways to try to cope. As the pandemic continues to take its toll, research consistently shows that, for many people who were already drinking heavily, our drinking habits may have taken a turn for the worse.
“So it makes sense to get on top of our drinking using strategies that are proven to work. And that’s where Dry January® comes in. It offers the opportunity for a total reset. 31 days to try something new. Sleep better and have more energy, improve your mental health and concentration, look fabulous and get brighter skin, save money and feel an amazing sense of achievement.
“What’s more, over 70% of people who do Dry January® continue to drink less six months later – so it’s an investment in your health and happiness year-round.
“Taking part in Dry January® means accessing brilliant free tools and resources, especially the outstanding Try Dry® app, our motivational and inspiring email coaching programmes, and the fabulous online support group. If you’re interested in resetting your relationship with alcohol, make this January a much better, richer experience and download the free Try Dry® app or sign up at dryjanuary.org.uk.”
Alcohol Change UK offers a free app, Try Dry®, which allows people to track their units, calories and money saved during January, and to set custom goals for managing their drinking year-round.
The charity also provides an inspiring free programme of daily coaching emails throughout the month. Taking part in Dry January® allows people to benefit from these tools and resources. And it works. People who do Dry January® are twice as likely to have a completely alcohol-free month compared to those who try to give up alcohol on their own in January. And those who take part in Dry January® also have significantly improved wellbeing and better control over their drinking six months later4, whereas those who tried to go dry on their own on average find that their drinking is right back where it started. In January 2021, almost 130,000 people used Try Dry®, with tens of thousands continuing to use the app throughout the year.
Find out more about our support of the campaign here
