How Dry January can benefit your mental and physical health

Many people are participating in Dry January, and experts are sharing how cutting out alcohol can have some health benefits.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — We’re nearly one week into 2025, and a lot of people are still going strong and keeping up with their New Year’s resolutions.
However, for some, their resolutions are a little more short-term, like taking a time out from alcohol for a month at the beginning of the year.
This is something known as Dry January. Experts say that cutting out alcohol has some health benefits and even some local businesses have been jumping on board too.
“Not drinking has become increasingly popular,” said Kerri Michael, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Its growing popularity has been leading some people to kick off the new year sober, and Michael said that Dry January comes with several benefits.
“It’s so important to get good rest, and alcohol really inhibits that. You know, especially if you consume alcohol later at night, which most people who consume it do,” Michael explained.
Besides improving your sleep, it could give you more mental clarity and healthier coping mechanisms.
“You hear about people who are sort of self-medicating, and when they’re stressed out, they drink. It’s just like, I’ve had a really rough week, and I’m gonna, you know, unwind with drinks. But in point of fact, it actually is counterproductive to drink alcohol in order to cope with stress,” she added.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, if you were to cut out alcohol, then you may physically feel better too.
You also might experience less fatigue and weight loss. Plus, there would be no more upset stomachs from the hangover.
“It’s good to give it a try,” she added.
Even local businesses are giving it a try and accommodating those who are participating. Restaurants like Bread Cheese Wine (BCW) in SOMA are offering non-alcoholic drink options.
“Even in the kind of not January months, we have a lot of requests for non-alcoholic drinks and everything else, and we want everybody to feel welcome,” said Nathan Miller, the owner of BCW.
Miller said they’ve seen an uptick in mocktail sales, including the ones that have THC in them.
“We sold out of the first option on Saturday, and then the other one, we sold out last night. And so they have been wildly popular,” he added.
That just goes to show the demand for the trend.
“They can come in here and have a good time and, you know, be thought of, not be an afterthought,” he described.
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