Everybody has different reasons for taking on the Dry January challenge, whether it's a little extra cash in your pocket, a hangover-free happier hour, or the thrill of an energetic workout session. This year's campaign shows that whatever the motivation, Alcohol Change UK's Try Dry app and other dedicated resources help people stay on track and committed even when temptation strikes!
Get ready for the #DryJanuaryChallenge 2026! It's the perfect time to reset and experience all the benefits of a month off booze. Download the free Try Dry® app to start your alcohol-free streak.
1. What you'll notice
2. On the inside
A month alcohol-free has a lot of benefits: research published in 2018, conducted by the Royal Free Hospital and published in the British Medical Journal, found that a month off:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces diabetes risk
- Lowers cholesterol
- Reduces levels of cancer-related proteins in the blood.
Wow.
3. Long-term change
The real magic happens when Dry January® is over. Dry January® helps people to drink more healthily year-round. Research conducted by the University of Sussex has found that six months after Dry January® more than 70% of people who take on the month with Alcohol Change UK's Try Dry® app or coaching emails are still drinking more healthily. On top of that, they have boosted levels of wellbeing, and much more besides.
How can it be that just a month off has a long-term impact? Being alcohol-free for 31 days shows us that we don’t need alcohol to have fun, to relax, or to socialise. It helps us learn the skills we need to manage our drinking. That means that for the rest of the year we are better able to make decisions about when we drink and how much, so we can avoid slipping into drinking more than we really want to.
That's extra good news, because alcohol is linked with more than 60 health conditions, including liver disease, high blood pressure, depression and seven types of cancer. In fact, alcohol is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability for people aged 15-49 in the UK. Cutting back on alcohol long-term reduces your risk of developing these conditions.
The Dry January® challenge | Alcohol Change UK