As Dry January begins, we reveal the GP-approved tips for cutting down and staying on track
Has the joke run dry on drinking? New research from Alcohol Change UK has revealed half of men in the UK (48%) think they’re funnier when drinking alcohol, suggesting blokes use booze to feel and bring the humour. But is there any truth to this? Former NHS doctor and expert in addiction psychiatry, Dr Jeevan Fernando, says: “You might feel funnier because everything is funnier when you’re a little bit drunk. You are also likely to perceive yourself as funnier because everyone is laughing – because they are also drunk. But it can be a false sense of whether you’re actually funny or not.
“For us to be funny, enjoyable and charismatic to be around, you have to let go of being rigid and socially correct. The ‘funny’ is at the border between acceptable and not acceptable. When you are drunk your prefrontal cortex, the part of you that helps make decisions and is self conscious about how things come across, is muffled. So you may say the funny thing that comes to mind, without filtering yourself.
READ MORE: ‘Boozing and drugs saw me end up in prison – now I’m teetotal and a proud dad’
“As a society we’ve used alcohol as a bit of a crutch to be confident. But you can unfilter yourself naturally, while remaining in control. You can be funny when sober, all it takes is confidence… and maybe a little practice.” To kick off this year’s Dry January challenge, which helps people around the UK and the world reset their relationship with alcohol over 31 days, we meet two men whose lives were torn apart by booze – and rebuilt by going sober.
Benefits of binning the booze
Dr Jeevan says…
SHORT TERM HEALTH: cutting out booze instantly improves sleep, meaning more energy, reduced brain fog, better emotional wellbeing, less stress and anxiety. Those well rested are better able to deal with life’s ups and downs, and less emotionally sensitive. You’ll feel this within a day, if not a week of going alcohol-free.
LONG TERM HEALTH: reducing your alcohol intake leads to decreased blood pressure, reduced cholesterol, and a lower risk of diabetes and cancers including throat, stomach, breast, prostate, liver and more. Alcohol, and especially chronic abuse of it, increases the rate of cognitive decline. This happens as we age, your brain naturally shrinks over time, but alcohol exaggerates this process. So your risk of dementia if you stop or reduce your intake is much less.
FINANCES: Research shows the average drinker spends £118 a month on booze. So if you’re a big drinker, this figure could be much higher. If you extrapolate that, that’s a lot of saving towards a nice holiday you’ll actually remember.
SEX DRIVE: Specifically for men, alcohol is related to lower testosterone, and this can lead to a lower sex drive and erectile dysfunction. Reduced levels of this hormone also contributes to lack of motivation and cognitive function.
How to go low and no this January
Dr Jeevan shares his top tips…
Try the Dry January app: Research shows people are twice as likely to complete Dry January with the app, and 70 per cent of participants drink less since months afterwards. Set goals, and track progress, calories and money saved. There’s a community there too, to boost morale and motivation.
Seek support: Lean on the people around you – friends and family. Tell them you’re doing Dry January, even better have them join you. Ask for the support you need.
Replace alcohol with something positive: Alcohol is a form of reward and something that helps to relax. If you remove it, you need to add something into your life that gives you the same feeling. Try an alcohol free drink, something creative, or going for a walk.
Hold something: Sometimes one of the reasons we drink is simply because we feel a bit strange without something in our hands. If that’s you, try a lemonade instead. Or play with a fidget spinner or hair bobble to keep your hands busy.
Keep socialising: Carry on seeing friends as normal when you’re not drinking. This will quickly normalise it. You’ll also realise you can be funny without booze, and get used to who you actually are.
*This year, Alcohol Change UK is bringing Funny AF to the UK: a one-night-only live dry comedy event at the Lucky Saint this January 20th. Featuring a celebrity host, Tom Rosenthal, and a range of comedians, the night will showcase that ditching the booze doesn’t mean losing the banter. Enter to win tickets via the Try Dry® app now.
READ MORE: ‘I saw a friend and my ex wife die from drinking’
