• [Daily Mirror Icon]
• Lifestyle
• Going out
• Dry January

I tried giving up alcohol for Dry January for first time it's not what you think

Dry January is a massive cultural movement in the UK, with millions of people going sober for the first month of the year - but is it really worth it?

[Vita Molyneux drinks a pint in the pub]

View 3 Images

I like a drink so a month without was a challenge(Image: Vita Molyneux)

Coming from New Zealand where January is the start of summer and alcohol is a staple in daily life, the concept of Dry January was alien to me. However, after moving to the UK, I quickly realised that abstaining from alcohol in the first month of the year is a big thing here.

Millions participate in Dry January, and the majority will tell you it's the best decision they've ever made. The promises are enticing - improved sleep, weight loss, boosted energy levels, more money in the bank, and an overall enhancement of your lifestyle.

These were the benefits I was told to expect if I embraced sobriety for January, and they all sounded appealing enough for me to give it a shot this year.

I'll admit, I consider myself to be a relatively heavy drinker - I like to have a drink when I cook dinner, so most nights I'll have a cider or maybe a rum and ginger ale if I'm feeling indulgent. On the weekend, I can often be found in the pub for a few more.

[Vita Molyneux sits outside the pub in London]

View 3 Images

My month off drinking didn't make me lose weight - but it did teach me something(Image: Vita Molyneux)

So, post-New Year celebrations, I stowed away my liquor bottles and embarked on my journey towards sobriety. I was excited about the prospect of becoming slimmer, having glowing skin, and a healthier bank balance, reports the Express.

Unfortunately, reality didn't quite match up to expectations. My weight remained unchanged, my sleep was as disturbed as ever, my finances continued to vanish at their usual rate, and I was still tired all the time.

My alcohol-free month felt virtually identical to my normal routine, except there was no relaxing pint after a long day. I delved into non-alcoholic alternatives, discovering Trip CBD drinks and Picoso Spicy sodas, as beer isn't really my thing.

When pub visits beckoned, I'd opt for a Coke Zero or a Lucky Saint zero alcohol lager mixed with lemonade.

[A Lucky Saint alcohol free beer, a Picoso Soda and Peroni Zero]

View 3 Images

I experimented with zero alcohol options(Image: Vita Molyneux)

The only difference I noticed was a marginal boost to my skin - peering closely in the mirror under bright lighting, I could just about make out a slightly more even skin tone.

However, in the first two weeks, I became acutely aware of how persistent the 'alcohol chatter' in my mind was.

What I mean is that urges to drink would regularly surface, requiring conscious effort to silence them.

Passing my local pub proved challenging. In those early weeks, I avoided entering entirely, even for a non-alcoholic beverage.

It seemed as though resisting a proper drink would be near impossible. That realisation alone troubled me sufficiently that I chose to treat Dry January as an opportunity to re-evaluate my connection with alcohol.

By the month's end, the alcohol chatter had vanished entirely. I stopped thinking about drinking altogether, and my daily existence continued largely unchanged - simply minus the booze.

Whilst the month-long abstinence didn't transform my life or trim my waistline, it provided crucial perspective on how drink had crept into my everyday habits. When the month drew to a close, I poured myself a cider whilst preparing dinner, only to find the experience surprisingly underwhelming.

I'd anticipated feeling a wave of relief at being able to drink once more, but the moment proved rather deflating - which actually felt like progress. Whilst I've no plans to embrace total sobriety, I'm committed to continuing with Dry January each year.

It's not the miracle solution it's often portrayed as, but it proved an effective means of reflecting on my relationship with alcohol. I'd let drinking become part of my daily ritual, yet following a month's abstinence, I now feel equipped to approach it properly - as an occasional treat rather than a habit.

[Daily Mirror Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.