Does Putting Alcohol Aside for a Month Make You Healthier?
Does short-term abstinence help? Yes.
Michael Hunter MD
Michael Hunter MD
Jan 22 · 4 min read
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Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash

Many of you may have chosen to take a month away from alcohol as the New Year unfolded. Does such brief abstinence lead to better health? You may be aware of Dry January. British individuals initiated this tradition in 2013 to raise awareness about alcohol abuse. The practice has spread worldwide. You, too, can join millions of others to kick off the new year in a healthy fashion.

Before you jump on the bandwagon, we probably should establish whether there are any health benefits associated with teetotaling for only one month. Is Dry January helpful in any meaningful way? Enter Richard de Visser, Ph.D. of the University of Sussex in England.

For his research investigation, Dr. de Visser examined the habits of 800 individuals who participated in Dry January in 2018. He collected survey responses from the subjects at the beginning of January, in the first week of February, and in August.

At the final follow-up, participants reported that the number of days they drink fell from 4.3 to 3.3 per week on average. The average number of units consumed daily also fell, from 8.6 to 7.1. Furthermore, the frequency of getting drunk decreased from 3.4 to 2.1 times per month. It is surprising that even those who did not completely abstain from alcohol in January still reported drinking less by August of the same year. The study author concluded this:

“By simply taking one month off alcohol, participants took control over their drinking habits and ultimately consumed less alcohol.”

The participants also reported improvements in well-being (defined using a variety of criteria). Over 70 percent slept better, and nearly 60 percent lost weight. More than half saw improvements in their skin and noted improvements in concentration. Perhaps not surprisingly, 88 percent of subjects saved more money, and 71 percent felt they no longer needed alcohol to enjoy themselves.

Likewise, the University of Sussex investigation of Dry January found that participants reported improvements in well-being, based on various criteria. Over 70% of participants said they were sleeping better, and nearly 60% reported losing weight.

More than half of all participants reported that their skin had improved, and they experienced better concentration. While 88% of participants reported saving more money, 71% found they no longer needed alcohol to enjoy themselves.
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Photo by Charles “Duck” Unitas on Unsplash
To drink or not to drink?

Perhaps equally encouraging, 82% of the University of Sussex study participants found themselves thinking more deeply about their relationship with alcohol. This change could help them develop or maintain a healthy level of alcohol consumption.

I would be remiss if I did not point to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025. It advises limiting your alcohol consumption for several reasons. Alcohol use is linked with an elevated risk of death from all causes than those who drink less. Regular drinking increases the chances of various ailments, from liver disease to cardiovascular disease to cancer.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) opines that alcohol use is one of the most preventable risk factors for cancer, joining tobacco use and excess body weight. Alcohol use results in about 6 percent of all cancers (and 4 percent of all cancer deaths) in the United States. As I meet with patients each day, I am often struck by how often they don’t recognize alcohol as a significant risk factor for cancer.

The American Cancer Society offers that alcohol use is associated with cancers of the mouth, throat, voicebox (larynx), esophagus, colon and r*****, liver, and the breast.

Alcohol may also increase the risk of stomach and other cancers. The non-profit ACS offers that the amount of alcohol someone drinks over time (and not the type of alcoholic beverage) appears to be the essential factor in raising cancer risk. Most evidence suggests that ethanol increases the risk, not other things in the drink.

Over time, excessive drinking can cause inflammation (hepatitis) and heavy scarring (cirrhosis) in the liver. This overuse is associated with liver failure. Heavy drinking can also damage organs such as the pancreas and the brain, and raise blood pressure. Used in excess, alcohol also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Thank you for joining me today. Medium
Me: I was in a seniors complex for years and saw people who drank alcohol dying like flies 55-65 years age range.
You want to live longer, give up smoking and alcohol, if the one does not kill you, the other will, early in your potential long life.