For the third consecutive year, “Dry January,” a month without alcohol, began this Saturday, January 1st and will last until January 31st.
The challenge’s principle: abstain from alcohol for one month. The goal: to realize the benefits of an alcohol-free daily life. Instead of emphasizing the dangers of alcohol, this campaign highlights the advantages of reducing consumption.
However, unlike the month without tobacco, which follows a similar principle, this challenge receives no support from the State or health authorities. Associations particularly criticize the State for yielding to alcohol lobbyists, especially winemakers who advocate for a “way of life.”
Santé Publique France, however, conducted a qualitative evaluation of the first edition of Dry January in 2020, although it is not involved in the operation.
Even though this challenge lacks visibility from the State, this year, several major cities have committed alongside the associations. Thus, the cities of Brest, Grenoble, Lyon, Nantes, Paris, and Toulouse have made this commitment and will specifically carry out information and communication campaigns around “Dry January.” The city of Grenoble is going even further by committing not to serve any alcoholic beverages at its official events in January.
Despite this lack of support and visibility from the State, a survey conducted by Yougov reveals that nearly 24% declare their intention to take up the challenge in 2022.
