34. Dry January or Dry for Life?

For millions of people across the world, a dry January provides a great health reset after a very wet December!

However, this year, the outgoing Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy, has challenged all Americans to consider going even further and make every month from here onwards, a dry one.

Our WTYT? hosts discuss the science of all things alcoholic, everything from what makes alcohol fun to why, even in moderation, alcohol may not be the friend we thought it was.

Take a listen whilst sipping your mocktail and let us know what you think!

Episode Resources:

Before we really get going, just how keen is the world on alcohol, click here to find out!

Read how Covid changed the world’s drinking habits here.

How much is too much? Here are the current US and UK guidelines for maximum weekly alcohol consumption as well as what the CDC has to safe about binge drinking.

Ethanol (alcohol) has complex actions on our brain, read more about how it can both stimulate and reduce activity in different brain regions.

How does the body process alcohol and is the “asian flush” a real thing?

For a straightforward overview of the many known side-effects of excess drinking, click here.

But if you want to dive a little deeper into more undesirable aspects of alcohol, check out these articles on sexual assault, blood pressure and sleep.

Although most scientists and health care professionals now believe that any perceived health benefits from alcohol intake are more than offset by the negative aspects of alcohol, here’s a flavor of the previously considered benefits of red wine on both blood clotting and heart disease.

When it comes to hangovers, what are they and what’s really causing them? Check out the following links to sort fact from the fiction when it comes to the causes of hangovers.

Fact: the nasty actions of methanol

Fact: oxidative stress (yes really, but worth the read if you’re up for a bit of a challenge)

Fact or Fiction: drinking sugary alcoholic drinks

Fiction: dehydration. Firstly, a very readable overview followed by two scientific dives into the issue.

Finally, the biggest fiction of them all: drinking that glass of water before bed will help reduce hangover symptoms, sadly not.

Interested in the Surgeon General’s prescription for the nation? Try this overview first and then if for the numbers and the actual research, here’s the original report that his advice is based upon.

Just how popular is Dry January in the US and the UK? Does your age influence your likelihood of attempting a sober January?

For around 70% of dry January participants, research suggests that the positive effects are still being felt 6 months later, however, for some, dry January might not be the best idea – read why here.

Think that dry January might be for you? It’s not too late to join in and here are a couple of useful resources to help you

Think that reducing rather than totally giving alcohol might be the way to go? How do you know if you’re drinking too much? Well, a good place to start is to accurately calculate the units in that gin cocktail or that “go on, make it a large” chardonnay – here’s how to do it.

And consider trying the 20 minute rule!

Phew, we think that if you’re looking for something to do to help distract you from the lack of beer in your hand, checking out these should help!

As always, get in touch, tell us what you think as well as telling us what you’d like to discuss next!

And have a great 2025 everyone :)