'I decided that I was going to stay drink-free forever'

A month of alcoholic abstinence seems good on paper, but can it really make a difference to your drinking habits in the long term? Dry January sceptic Eloise Hendy finds out

- Eloise Hendy

Everyone who knows me knows I like a drink. I've worked in wine bars, adore lethally strong cocktails, and pubs are pretty much my favourite places. But this Christmas I found myself yearning for a break from booze. "I actually can't wait for Dry January," I texted my boyfriend on Boxing Day, and again the day after.

I'm not alone. Since 2017, the popularity of Dry January has seen a sharp increase year on year, peaking in 2021 (possibly aided by the winter lockdown removing any temptation to hit the pub). Even though the number of people taking part in the challenge dipped last January, social media analytics company Brandwatch found that online mentions of non-alcoholic beverages continued to surge throughout 2022, suggesting more people are taking to non-alcoholic drinks - and not just due to abstinence challenges, either. Since 2019, online interest in giving up alcohol entirely has been growing. In fact, a recent survey commissioned by Sentia highlighted how four in 10 UK adults have already cut out alcohol, or are at least attempting to. Fifty-nine percent cite health as the primary consideration. So, has the popularity of Dry January over the last few years spurred on a broader "sober-curious" movement?

What is certain is that people are right to be concerned about the effect drinking might be having on their health. Fitness and nutrition expert Penny Weston runs an online wellness platform called Made on Demand. She tells me how, even in the short term, "alcohol can affect mood, appetite, weight, libido, as well as cause a spike in insulin levels which are like those caused by poor diet". Over a long period, this can have severe effects. "What we eat and drink is extremely important in maintaining good cognitive function and protecting us against conditions such as diabetes and Alzheimer's."