2023 already started 5 weeks ago. Many started the new year with a drink and a delicious oliebol, but this was the last drink for the rest of the month. The Dry January Challenge had officially started.
We all know that alcohol is not the best nutrition for us. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the consequences of consuming alcohol. For more tips and information, visit alcoholinfo.nl.
What is Dry January?
IkPas is a Dutch public health campaign that urges people not to drink alcohol, especially in the month of January. The campaign is known internationally as Dry January. Dry January means that you do not drink alcohol during the entire month of January. This phenomenon started in 2011 in Great Britain and is now becoming increasingly popular among Dutch young people. There is a website where you can find all kinds of explanations and tips. Even liquor stores like Gall&Gall advertise it.
Dry January is for anyone who wants to take on the challenge of being alcohol-free for a month. Participation is open to everyone. It does not matter whether you drink a lot or once in a while.
Experiences
Our fellow HU students also participated in Dry January. I spoke to Laura (20), Patrick (23), Luuk (19), and Amanda (21). These four people together form a close-knit group of friends who regularly meet for a drink. For the month of January, they decided to do this differently. “We noticed that more and more and more and more often a bottle was being opened. Especially in the month of December, they flew through it quickly. It also didn’t stop at weekends, but we sometimes started drinking during the week.” Laura started to notice that more and more money was being spent on alcohol and that the frequency of consumption of alcohol was getting higher and higher, so she rang the bell. The other friends at first thought she was joking but soon agreed.
Now, at the end of January, they notice many differences. “In the beginning, it took some getting used to because we didn’t really know what to do next,” says Luuk. Normally the plan for the evening was pretty clear; having a nice drink together at Patrick’s house. But now that that idea was scrapped, filling in the Friday evening became a bit more difficult. “We have noticed that Dry January has brought us even closer together. We have started doing other fun things, such as laser gaming, bowling, and eating out. Luuk tried to order a beer, but we quickly took him out of this dream.” If you are used to ordering a drink in a restaurant, it is a bit of a switch to suddenly have a coke. This group of friends helped each other stay on track and are now closer than ever.
Missed Dry January? Try it in another month!
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Shirley Galmo