Health boss suggests app to help Dry January

DIRECTOR of Public Health at Gloucestershire County Council, Siobhan Farmer has urgedresidents to double their chances of making January alcohol-free with the Try Dry app from Alcohol Change UK.

Of 2000 UK adults polled, 50 per cent gave up on Dry January in the second week of the month – with most giving up on January 16.

Siobhan said: “My 2023 Director of Public Health report was on the ripple effect of alcohol – on our physical and mental health, our families, jobs, and our communities. Focussing on alcohol can lead to criticisms of being the fun police, but it would be remiss of me to ignore alcohol when it can have such a big impact on our health and wellbeing.”

Around 1 in 5 people (21per cent) are consuming alcohol at levels which put them at an increased risk of harm, and this threshold for harm is often much lower than we realise.

Data from GPS shows that taking part in Dry January is a common trigger point for people to cut down on the amount of alcohol they drink.

Siobhan continues: “We know that providing clear information and advice about alcohol and its health risks helps people make informed choices about drinking. Taking part in initiatives like Dry January encourages people to drink less and can ‘reset’ our relationship with alcohol. So if you want to take part, why not try the free app”

Take a quick quiz from Alcohol Change UK: https://alcoholchange. org.uk/alcohol-facts/interactive-tools/ check-your-drinking

The Try Dry app: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/interactive-tools/the-dry-january-app-1