Many people who drank too much last night will wake up this morning and vow not to drink alcohol this month.
But Dry January is becoming a “fashionable movement” and is increasingly being used as an excuse for dangerous drinking habits all year round, experts have warned.
Dr Niall Campbell, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Priory and one of the UK’s leading alcohol withdrawal experts, has issued an urgent warning about Britain’s drinking culture.
“If you use a dry January as an excuse to drink excessively in December and February and the rest of the year, you’re missing the point.”What we’re seeing is Something like that,” he said.
“Dry January is a great initiative, it’s hugely popular and the health benefits of completing it are significant.
“But I worry that it has become a fashionable exercise for many people. As a society we need to sound the alarm.”
Record numbers of alcohol-related deaths occur across the UK, according to figures released in December (File image)
Around 15.5 million people are expected to take part in Dry January in the UK this year (file image)
Around 15.5 million people in the UK are expected to take on Dry January, a popular annual challenge to abstain from alcohol for 31 days this year.
However, figures released in December show that alcohol is causing a record number of deaths across the UK, with more than 8,200 people expected to die in 2023, a 42% increase compared to 2019. I am doing it.
New statistics released by Priory, an independent provider of addiction treatment services, confirm that alcohol remains the UK’s leading addiction.
In 2024, 59 per cent of people seeking support through addiction treatment services were seeking support for alcohol misuse.
Dr Campbell warned that the number of alcohol-related deaths could be even higher than the numbers indicate.
“The official death toll is alarming, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg,” he explained.
“From my many years of clinical experience with alcoholics, it is clear that the number of alcohol-related deaths is much higher than the numbers indicate.
“Government statistics only account for a limited number of causes, primarily liver disease.
January should be a time for everyone to reflect on their drinking habits and learn how to enjoy social events and relax at home without alcohol, an expert has said (File image)
“Many more people die from other alcohol-related causes, especially intoxication-related deaths, withdrawal attacks, heart attacks and strokes, even at younger ages.
“In these situations, a post-mortem is often not performed or alcohol is not detected as a cause of death.”
He added that although one in five people, particularly young people, now classifies themselves as non-drinkers, a significant number of drinkers engage in harmful drinking.
He said January should be a time for everyone to reflect on their drinking habits and learn how to enjoy social events and relax at home without alcohol.
These lessons should continue throughout the rest of this year, he added.
