Dry January: ditching purple to raise money for charity

Abstaining from drinking alcohol for a month might not sound that difficult, but, as someone who has experienced it themselves, let me tell you – it is.

You might say that there are plenty of people who never drink alcohol, so why is it such a big deal to give it up for just one month? Whilst this argument isn’t totally invalid, I would like to point out a few things. Some people never drink alcohol because they don’t want to – they might not like the taste, they might not like the effects – but the truth of the matter is this: I enjoy having a beer.

So giving up something I really enjoy for a whole month takes a lot more willpower than someone who might only drink occasionally. There are also those who might not drink for health or religious reasons. Some people in this category might find alcohol a constant temptation, and to resist takes great strength. But not drinking is the norm for these people and, in my experience, very rarely do they feel the desire to take a few swigs.

As an active member of the University of Warwick Men’s Hockey Club, temptation is never far away

As an active member of the University of Warwick Men’s Hockey Club, temptation is never far away – our club usually offers at least two socials per week. Like it or not, alcohol has become a big part of student culture, particularly among sports clubs, and it’s often used as a catalyst for having fun. For me, a night out drunk and a night out sober are two very different experiences. Each time I went out this January, there was always a little voice inside my head telling me I might enjoy this more if I had a couple of drinks. That was very hard to ignore. The voice of temptation is amplified when you’re surrounded by friends, most of whom are drinking and all seem to be having a brilliant time.

Despite the challenges, there are plenty of reasons to take part in Dry January. This January, a few of us at UWMHC took part to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Last year we raised around £250 and this year we beat that, raising over £260 by 11pm on Tuesday 31 January. The money was raised both through sponsorship donations and by taking donations at circle each Wednesday during the month (I noticed that people’s generosity often increased with drunkenness).

I saved around £75 saved just on Wednesday nights

An added benefit was felt keenest by my liver: my health. Alcohol is both a toxin and highly calorific. By cutting off alcohol I’ve given my liver a well-deserved break after the Christmas period, when I probably exceeded the recommended alcohol intake. I also found that I slept much better and, of course, avoided any nasty hangovers.

As an extra bonus, I’ve also saved a lot of money. Normally I’ll top up my ‘Eating at Warwick’ card about £25 each Wednesday. This covers pints of purple at circle and then the inevitable jagerbomb round for people who will never pay you back, though this never seems to matter at the time. Pints of water, on the other hand, are completely free – and with my smuggled-in Robinson’s they even look like purple. So that’s around £75 saved just on Wednesday nights, not to mention the other nights out and casual pints at the pub which take place during the month.

So yeah, Dry January is hard at times, but there are plenty of benefits. Why not give it a go next year – you’ll feel healthier, you’ll save money, and you can even raise money for charity.