RESIDENTS are being encouraged to give up alcohol during January by Gloucestershire County Council.

Dry January is an annual campaign run by Alcohol Concern, which encourages people to take a month out from alcohol after drinking lots of booze over the festive period.

Last year, over two million people around the country took part in Dry January, with many raising money for charity in the process.

Director of public health at Gloucestershire County Council, Sarah Scott, said: “Tackling the harm caused by alcohol is one of the Gloucestershire Health & Wellbeing board’s five priorities.

“Research by Public Health Action published in November revealed that one in three adults in the South West drink too much alcohol - but few realise it or understand the health risks.

“Taking a month off alcohol for Dry January can have a number of benefits, including weight loss, improved sleep, more energy, clearer skin as well as saving money in the process.”

Alcohol Concern’s Dry January website has advice and information on giving up, as well as recipes for delicious alchohol free ‘mocktails’ and an online ‘impact calculator’, where you can work out the average amount of alcohol units, money and calories that a typical week’s drinking adds up to.

 

To sign up to the campaign visit  the www.dryjanuary.org.uk website.