As Champagne lovers, do you participate in the global phenomenon that is Dry January? Let’s take a look into this month-long new year’s resolution to see what the fuss is all about.
Personally, I don’t participate myself, although apparently 1 in 5 adults are this year. As someone that has a healthy relationship with alcohol and works within the industry, I see it as my role to uphold my healthy ‘little and often’ mentality! But as so many of my friends, family, and other wine professionals around me do, I thought digging into the origin and benefits would be an interesting way to decide if 2021 will be the year I start.
Dry January has been around since 2013 and was first introduced by the non-profit company ‘Alcohol Change UK’. They started a campaign to raise funds for those suffering from alcohol related illnesses and addiction, by asking participants to abstain from alcohol and generate sponsorship while doing so. A chance to give your liver a break and raise money for charity sounds appealing, so I can see why this caught on…
Over the last few years, a growing trend in ‘no and low’ alcohol and healthy alternatives has taken the UK by storm with bars, pubs and high street restaurant chains now widely offering ‘mocktails’, 0% beer and even CBD drinks. It’s no wonder dry January is now so widely practised considering the biggest drinking age group – the millennials, are also the most health concerned. With looking and feeling good now almost an everyday pillar of life, Covid-19 aside, gym memberships are at their highest, everyone is a yoga expert and all of this is fuelled by ever threatening presence of social media.
So what exactly are the health benefits of not drinking alcohol I hear you ask? Far too many to list in this blog, and trust me I am in no way asking you to put down your glass of Champagne, but the headline benefits are as follows:
- Reduced blood pressure
- Increased energy/ sleep
- Weight loss
- Better skin
- Clearer thinking and reduction in everyday stress/ anxiety
Not to mention the mental health benefits regarding our relationship with alcohol which is how this whole motion started. Alcohol can repress mood stabilizers meaning being irrational and having mood swings could be a thing of the past if we kick the habit!
Still not convinced in putting down the bottle? I’ll leave you with this…
There are:
- 200 calories in a pint of beer
- 175 in a G&T
- 125 in a glass of wine
- 95 in a glass of Champagne
So If going dry is not your thing, or like me you are keen to maintain a healthy and sensible rate of consumption and keep the drinks merchants afloat this month…at least Champagne is the ‘healthiest’ of the options!
If you wish to seek further information or advice regarding your relationship to alcohol, please visit Alcohol Change - https://alcoholchange.org.uk/