Start the year feeling great with Dry January. Take a month-long break from alcohol to explore new routines, read about reducing alcohol (in French), and discover new refreshing alternatives.
Turn your January into a month of renewal and wellbeing.
Dry January, what is it?
Dry January is a public health challenge where participants commit to not drinking any alcohol throughout the month of January. This movement, launched in 2013 by the British organisation Alcohol Change UK, aims to raise awareness about alcohol's effects on health and encourage everyone to rethink their relationship with alcohol.
People may use the month to reflect on their drinking, sleep and routines. Individual experiences vary; the challenge is not a treatment or a promise of weight loss, better sleep or improved mental health.
If you may be dependent on alcohol, get medical advice before starting an alcohol-free challenge. Stopping suddenly can be dangerous. See NHS guidance on alcohol-use disorder.
A little history
Dry January was inspired by Emily Robinson, a British woman who decided to give up alcohol in January 2011 to better prepare for a half marathon in February. Her experience generated a lot of interest among her friends and colleagues, which led her to repeat the initiative the following year.
In 2012, Emily joined the organisation Alcohol Change UK, where she helped formalize the challenge in 2013. Since then, Dry January has become a global movement, with millions of participants each year and a lasting impact on their alcohol consumption.
