2024 will mark the 11th year that Alcohol Change UK has been running their Dry January campaign, which invites us to take a break from drinking for the month of January!
The campaign aims to make people aware of the harmful effects of alcohol and shows us how much healthier we can feel if we cut down on our alcohol consumption even for just one month.
According to Alcohol Change UK’s website, the idea came about when Emily Robinson signed herself up for a marathon in 2011. Robinson realized she wouldn’t be able to train for the marathon if she continued to drink at her current level and so, decided to give up alcohol for the lead-up to her race. The results astounded her. The next year she brought her experience to Alcohol Change UK where her idea was shaped into what it is today.
The benefits of cutting back on alcohol are proven and numerous, including mental, physical, and social wellness. It could also save you a bit of money over the thirty-one-day haul.
However, as a student, it can be hard to make the decision to “try dry” when the majority of social spaces are centred around alcohol. For many students, the consumption of alcohol can seem unavoidable.
Talking to students about their experience, one reported, “I wanted to do Dry January because personally I was drinking a bit much and wanted to start the year out on a good note.” They noted however that they find it hard in Galway’s social scene, stating that there’s “often not much else to do”.
Another student talks about some of the alternative opportunities to socialise. “Of course, there are societies which are great, but most young adults want to socialise during the evening when most societies finish.” Another concern they shared relates to the lack of opportunities for young people to dress up, or wear ‘party’ attire. “The only time I really get to glam-up is for a night out. I don’t have an office job and I don’t want to be wearing my Sunday best to university. I think if you’re not going to a club or pub there isn’t anywhere to dress up.”
At an age such as this it can be so easy to give in to the pressure of what everyone else is doing. Being the only one in a group who isn’t drinking can be extremely isolating. But more people than you might think are taking part in Dry January and finding new ways to take part in the city’s social life while still abstaining. There are several resources on Alcohol Change UK’s website to help you navigate this month’s events!
For local news; Instagram page ‘Galway Sober Sallys’ is working to provide social spaces for young people where no alcohol is involved.
More and more young people are challenging their relationship with alcohol through the Dry January campaign every year.
Perhaps January 2024 will kickstart a change in Galway’s nightlife scene towards a healthier social environment.