Why your dry January could be a waste of time

IT SEEMS that for heavy drinkers, trying to cut down by starting out with a dry January proves no more successful than most short-lived new year’s resolutions.

A study has revealed that six months on they are no more likely to have reduced their alcohol intake than other drinkers who made no specific plans to cut back.

The findings by a team of researchers from Bristol University suggest that kickstarting a healthier lifestyle with a vow to keep off alcohol in January is unlikely to be enough to help cut consumption in the long term.

Dr Frank de Vocht of Bristol Medical School said: ‘We wanted to find out if motivation alone can limit intake.

‘Sadly, although people start with good intentions, our results suggest that something more is required for those intentions to make a difference.’

Researchers interviewed about ,000 people who drank enough to risk their health, and found one in five wanted to cut back to improve their health and fitness, save money and lose weight.

But when they questioned them six months later, they found those with no set plans on how to reduce their drinking had cut their intake by the same amount as those who pledged to stick to a healthier regime. The failure of willpower alone suggests many people who survive without booze in January are doomed to return to their old habits.

But Dr de Vocht added that those who want to make long-term reductions in their drinking are more likely to succeed with outside encouragement, such as joining the official Dry January campaign run by the charity Alcohol Concern.