• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Expert shares what to do if you accidentally broke Dry January at the weekend

Home> News> Health

Updated 15:24 15 Jan 2024 GMTPublished 15:22 15 Jan 2024 GMT

Expert shares what to do if you accidentally broke Dry January at the weekend

Have you caved? Fear not, because experts at the Priory Hospital have issued advise.

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

As we entered the new year, many Brits decided to embark on Dry Jan to give their body a rest from the festive boozing throughout December.

Plenty of folks opt to ditch the booze during January - especially if you felt you had a particularly heavy December - and it can have a pretty big impact on your health, not to mention your finances.

However, how many people actually succeed in staying alcohol-free for the whole month?

Well, addiction therapists have compiled some advice for participants who may not have made it the whole month despite setting out to.

They've covered all bases - whether you've just had one or two, or had a couple of binge drinking days - so there's something in here for you to ensure you don't give up.

Advert

Have you caved?
Pixabay

One or two drinks

You may have had a slight moment of weakness and had a drink or two one evening after a hard day.

Expert Neil Macaulay, an addiction therapist at Priory Hospital Glasgow, explained: "One or two drinks won’t negate all the good that you’ve done so far by changing your regular drinking habits. You will still feel the benefits of giving up alcohol in terms of sleeping, eating, energy levels and concentration."

Macaulay also highlighted that research suggests those who take part in Dry January are likely to be drinking less just six months later, even if they don't make it through the whole of January.

Advert

“It is all about getting back on track and not drinking for the rest of the month. You are trying to change something that has become a habit. Lapses to old behaviours are common but this doesn’t mean you have failed completely," he added.

Breaking your Dry January promise doesn't mean you should give up, according to experts.
Getty Stock Images

Binge Drinking

You may have given into the temptation to have a few drinks out with friends, or to have a bottle of wine one Friday night in front of the TV.

If you're in that situation, Macaulay explains: “This sounds like a serious lapse, but keep it to a lapse rather than reverting back to old behaviours.

Advert

“It is still worthwhile continuing with Dry January because of the potential long-term benefits.

“Instead of looking at the binge as a disaster, view it as a learning opportunity. What’s associated with or linked to your drinking patterns? What triggers episodes of heavy drinking?"

It looks like the importance of understanding why you may feel like you need to drink is key in achieving your goal and developing a healthier relationship with alcohol.

The expert also emphasised that returning to old habits after January means it will have no long-term effects.

Dry January should be an exercise to better understand your relationship with alcohol.
Getty Stock Images

I can't give up drinking

Lead addictions therapist at Priory Hospital Altrincham, Claire Rimmer, has provided some advice if you haven't been able to do Dry January despite wanting to.

Advert

“If you had every intention of going alcohol-free for a month, but have found that transferring this intention into action has been difficult, your drinking may be more problematic than you first thought.

“If you have since become preoccupied with the thoughts of drinking, making excuses for a ‘time out’ from Dry January, and have found that ‘just one’ drink has set off cravings and urges, it is likely that you are problem drinker."

Rimmer makes it abundantly clear that you should seek advice from your GP if you find yourself in this situation.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Health, Food And Drink

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

X

@joshnair10

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Getty Stock ImagesGetty Stock Images
    6 hours ago

    Major warning to Firestick users as world’s largest illegal sports streaming platform is shut down

    The world’s largest illegal sports streaming platform has been shut down

    News
  • Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty ImagesJoe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
    6 hours ago

    Epstein files reveal naked photos of Ghislaine Maxwell in billionaire's home

    Footage from his Florida mansion revealed dozens of photos

    News
  •  Instagram/sofi.co__ Instagram/sofi.co__
    7 hours ago

    Burning Man attendee reported missing days after man found dead in 'pool of blood'

    A man was found in a 'pool of blood' at the Burning Man festival on 30 August

    News
  • Phil Faraone/VMN18/Getty Images For Comedy CentralPhil Faraone/VMN18/Getty Images For Comedy Central
    8 hours ago

    Demi Moore reveals ex-husband Bruce Willis' 'difficult' personality change after dementia diagnosis

    Bruce Willis' ex wife Demi Moore opened up about his health condition on the Oprah podcast

    News
  • Expert reveals one little-known hack to help you get through Dry January
  • British favourite dish can make you seriously ill if you fail to do one thing before eating it
  • Expert debunks common myth around protein consumption when exercising
  • Expert explains what you should do if you start seeing these 'floaters' in your eyes