VIDEO. Dry January: "I can laugh and have fun without alcohol"

Are you able to stop alcohol, or at least reduce your consumption for a month? It is the "Défi de janvier" that January several French associations fighting against addictions are proposing. Unlike the "Tobacco-free month" organized by the public authorities in November, the "Dry January" is not officially supported by the government. According to the organizing associations, the project should have been. They accuse the wine lobby of being behind this state retreat…

Despite all the challenge will take place. Launched in France this year, “Dry January” already exists in 14 other countries. It is based on a website (dryjanuary.fr) where you can download an application, "Try Dry", created by the English association "Alcohol Change" at the origin of the challenge. It allows you to reach your goals by reducing or stopping your alcohol consumption during these 30 days.

The idea immediately appealed to Céline, 48, who lives in the Hauts-de-Seine. Good living, she who loves good wines around a dinner with friends, begins her “dry January” with confidence. “I love challenges. And this one is within my reach. I never drink alone. So no temptations at home. I mainly drink with my friends. I'm going to be able to show them that we can laugh and have fun in the evening without drinking a drop of alcohol. ”

Beyond the personal challenge, reducing or even eliminating alcohol for a month improves the quality of sleep, improves concentration, loses weight ... and helps regulate consumption better for after. This is also what motivates Céline. “Drinking alcohol regularly with friends has become a habit. And we don't necessarily realize the impact it can have on our well-being. ”

A study by the University of Sussex in Brighton conducted on 800 people who participated in 2018 in "Dry January" in England, has proved the benefits of this short abstinence: 70% of them saw their state of health overall improve and 71% realized they didn't need a drink to have fun.