Like any New Year’s Resolution such as losing weight, spending less money, it usually doesn’t last. In fact, January 19 is the day most people are likely to give up their resolutions. They may feel shame at not being able to carry out their missions.
It’s hard in today’s society to give up a pleasurable pastime when you want to have a drink at a wedding or another special occasion. But you don’t have to give up alcohol for thirty-one days if you partake in Damp January; you just have to learn how to drink in moderation. It’s called Damp January because you learn to drink sensibly.
What Is Considering Drinking in Moderation?
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advises two alcohol drinks per day for men and one for women. Binge drinking is having five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women. To know hot much you are drinking, consider the unit:
- A large wine glass holds 250 ml, which is nearly three units or more in a single glass.
- You should have no more than fourteen units per week.
- One pint of strong lager can contain more than three units of alcohol.
- A 750 ml bottle of red, white or rose wine contains around ten units.
Benefits of Semi-Dry Damp January
While abstaining from alcohol altogether has more health benefits, Amitava Dasgupta, Ph.D., professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UT Health in Houston, and the author of The Science of Drinking, points out that drinking one of two glasses of wine once or twice a week for men over forty, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, weight gain, and interrupted sleep. You have better performance at work because alcohol affects brain function and processes of information.
It can lead to improvements in your appearance (skin and hair), mental health as well as liver health. By avoiding excess drinking, you are seeking a balance in your life without depriving yourself of an occasional glass of your favorite libation. By reflecting on how much you drink, at the same time, you are examining why you drink. According to the CDC, 38 million adults in the United States drink to excess.
The Long-term Effects of Damp January
Ninety-two percent of 25,000 participants who took part in Sunnyside Dry (ish) January Challenge in 2023 comparing Dry vs. Damp Study, were still eager in February to maintain a lower intake of alcohol. On the average, members of Sunnyside, the leading alcohol health platform focusing on moderation and mindfulness not sobriety, see a thirty percent reduction in alcohol consumption in THREE months.
By adding more dry days to your months, you can reduce the number of days you drink during January. You’re the boss! Bars now serve mocktails, delicious fruity drinks, making them viable options.
If you need help to get started, here are some apps:
Wesley Cullen Davidson
Wesley Cullen Davidson is an award-winning freelance writer and journalist specializing in parenting. Currently, she is targeting her writing about recovery to parents whose children have substance abuse disorders.