Dry January Saves You Money – £118 On Average!
According to data from Alcohol Change UK, dry January saves you money! Those who gave up booze this month saved on average £118.
Over 100,000 people downloaded Alcohol Change UK’s Try Dry app this year and tracked their financial gains.
It was estimated that 8.5 million people planned to go alcohol free this January. Data showed that app users saved on average £118 this Dry January, compared with £117 last year.
Pubs have reported a drop in drinks sales, however, they didn’t lower the prices of their no and low-alcohol drinks. As the popularity of these alternatives rise, so has their prices.
CGA consultancy, which works with the alcohol industry, said drink sales at UK bars were down by 7% in January. While, according to data by Assosia, the cost of no and low alcohol beer and cider has been going up faster than the alcohol versions.
Drinks prices across the board have risen over the last year. The research shows there was a surge of 13.3% in the prices of non-alcoholic alternatives since the beginning of last year. While, full-strength beer and cider experienced a milder increase of 10.4%.
Much like the rise in vegetarian and vegan alternatives, the range of no/low alcohol drinks is expanding. Image credit: www.reservewines.co.uk
How to enjoy Dry January, drinking less, or going sober?
The biggest tip for Dry January and for going sober at all is to think about what you’re gaining rather than what you are “giving up.”
Those who go sober for any length of time usually say they’ve gained:
- more money (as backed up by this report)
- more time
- more energy
- more emotional stability (less hangxiety)
- more clarity
- more me
Sober social groups are also popping up everywhere! One really popular sober influencer is Millie Gooch who runs Sober Girl Society. They host various sober activities including a Dry Disco, the first of which was held at the Ministry of Sound last summer. Her book Sober Girl Society Handbook is also a great start for any sober curious people.
A quick Facebook search can find you other sober community groups who may be planning get-togethers and activities near you. Usually there is a mixed group of people who differ in age and background, but are united by an interest in sober social events.
Popular sober influencer, Millie Gooch, runs the Sober Girl Society which comes with a handbook.
With more time, money and energy for starters, many begin to explore more about who they are. A journey which leads to investing your – often limited – resources back into yourself rather than into the drinks industry. Waking up hangover free on the weekend is also a lot more rewarding and exciting than people expect, and stabilises the emotional bar for the rest of your week.
Some re-establish their relationship with alcohol and reduce their intake after realising the best mood-booster is self-care, while others choose to remain sober forever.
Whatever you choose to do, you’re not wrong and you’re not alone. Charities like Alcohol Change UK do encourage the public to revise their relationship with alcohol, and offer lots of resources to help.
Statistics show that 200,000 children in England live with an alcohol dependent parent, while £3.5 billion is the cost of alcohol to the NHS each year in England alone. Just some reasons for Alcohol Change UK’s campaign.
Hannah McLaren
I've worked at DC Thomson for six years! I began as an intern at My Weekly and The Scots Magazine, which was extended by a few months to help out at The People's Friend. I then covered maternity as Celebrity Editor for My Weekly, before I became Multimedia Journalist at The Scots Magazine. Currently I'm writing digital content across each title.
