Why Go Dry in July?

Latest research from the Heart Foundation on the impact of alcohol on your heart has shown that alcohol increases the risk of high blood pressure - a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Evidence has shown that every 10g increase in pure alcohol per day (1 standard drink), raises the risk of high blood pressure by 6%¹.

Excessive alcohol consumption is a serious concern for Aotearoa New Zealand. While evidence shows there are fewer teenagers drinking alcohol than 20 years ago, aided by more awareness of the health risks, a significant proportion of New Zealanders are continuing to drink excessively². Amohia Te Waiora (We’re Stronger Without Alcohol) reports that around 33% of men aged between 18 – 24 are likely to binge drink at least once a week, while almost 19% of women in the same age bracket are binge drinking weekly³.

Looking at the figures, it is clear that New Zealand’s drinking culture needs to be addressed. This is where efforts such as Dry July become increasingly important as a way for people to commit to going alcohol free and think more about their consumption. Using the alcohol withdrawal timeline from Priory, the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK, we can look at the health benefits people may experience when they stop drinking:

After one week dry, your overall sleeping pattern is improved resulting in increased learning and problem-solving abilities. With better decision making and an increase in productivity, the ability to balance emotions and negative behaviour improves. After the first week, your hydration levels will have also improved which aids in healthier brain function and reduces the frequency of dehydration headaches.

After ticking off two weeks with no alcohol, you can expect to see an improvement in acid reflux; a common issue for regular drinkers. As alcohol is an irritant to the stomach lining, abstaining from alcohol for two weeks will stabilize stomach acid production leading to relief from acid burn.

Around the three-week mark, some will see their blood pressure reduce to a safer level. Drinking too much alcohol over an extended period can cause your blood pressure to rise which can lead to heart problems, and increased risk of a stroke. Lowering your blood pressure has many health benefits such as improved vision and better kidney health.

At the end of week four, many will notice an improvement in their skin health. Giving up alcohol increases your hydration levels, and with more water being absorbed, skin conditions such as dandruff and eczema should improve. The overall function of the liver will also be in a recovery phase. As the liver breaks down most of the alcohol you consume, going dry means contaminants will be removed, blood clotting will be regulated, and you can maintain a healthier hormone balance.

A great tool for helping with sobriety, which is free for AIA Vitality members, is Allen Carr’s quit alcohol programme; “Quit Drinking Without Willpower.” The ‘Easyway’ method, coined by Carr, works to unravel the psychological brainwashing that tends to prevent people from giving up alcohol. Carr does this by challenging the two false alcohol assumptions; that genuine pleasure can be obtained from drinking and that quitting will involve pain or sacrifice. As an AIA Vitality member, you can attend an Allen Carr's Easyway To Stop Drinking seminar free of charge while also scoring 500 AIA Vitality Points.

So why not challenge yourself to go ‘Dry for July’, and experience for yourself some of the great health benefits of going alcohol-free.

Further information is available on the official Dry July website. 

• alcohol.org.nz - Comprehensive information, help and advice for adults and parents.
• Alcohol Drug Helpline - Useful information including a link to a directory listing all publically funded addiction services and a 24/7 helpline.
• Living Sober - Information, tools and resources and an informative community blog.
• Whaiora Online - Strength & Support For Whaiora, Whanau & Community.
• Alcoholics Anonymous - Free support groups where people meet together to stay sober