Does the science support ‘Dry January’?
As January draws to a close, db speaks with Julian Braithwaite, chief executive of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), to ask whether scientific research really supports the idea that a month without beer, wine or spirits is good for our health.
Braithwaite, who has led the alliance of global beer, wine and spirits producers for the past few years, has been in the media spotlight recently as Dry January continues to attract widespread interest — and scrutiny.
For many people, the appeal of the challenge lies in reassurance: if they are to switch from the indulgence of the festive period to a month of abstinence, they want to know that the sacrifice delivers tangible benefits.
Braithwaite is well placed to address the question. IARD is a science-based organisation and, he tells db in a podcast, manages the world’s largest database of research on alcohol and health.
He is clear that if Dry January encourages people to “pause and reflect on their relationship with alcohol”, that in itself “is a good thing”.
However, he adds that decades of research point to a more nuanced conclusion. “What the science says is that altering long-term drinking patterns is better than any short-term, one-month reset, and likely to be more sustainable — particularly for those who want to avoid the cycle of binge and bust.”
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Reflecting on alcohol consumption, he argues, does not require an “all-or-nothing” approach. “You don’t have to go from zero to hero in one month. It’s about arriving at a sustainable, moderate place when it comes to your relationship with alcohol.”
Such moderation, he notes, is already clearly defined. “In this country, for example, the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines help people understand where those limits are. If you can end up drinking moderately throughout the week and throughout the year, that’s a positive outcome to come out of January.”
Braithwaite adds that research also shows that people who drink moderately “live at least as long as people who don’t drink at all”.
What can be detrimental to health, however, is withdrawing from social life altogether in order to avoid alcohol. “Celebrating and coming together” are beneficial, he says, with studies showing that social connection boosts self-esteem, sharpens cognitive function and strengthens the immune system.
By contrast, social isolation — an increasing issue even among younger age groups — can contribute to anxiety and depression, as well as a weakened immune system.
In other words, it’s better to drink moderately throughout the year and enjoy alcohol in social settings than go through periods of total denial that risk cutting you off from occasions that could boost self esteem.
As physician and vintner Dr Laura Catena recently told db, “Drinking in moderation makes you feel good – so I’m saying it is health neutral and pleasure positive.”
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