I’ve run across a number of patients who slowly increased their alcohol consumption over months or years, not realizing it was causing or would cause problems for them. Alcohol is dangerous, lethal at times.
From a health standpoint, the generally accepted safe levels of consumption are:
- no more than one standard drink per day for women
- no more than two standard drinks per day for men
One drink is 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits (e.g., vodka, whiskey, rum, gin).
Dry January was conceived in the UK in 2012 or 2014. (A related concept is Sober October.) The idea is simply to abstain from all alcohol for the month of January. The Alcohol Change UK website can help you git ‘er done. Many folks notice that they sleep better, have more energy, lose weight, and save money. There are other potential benefits.
If you think you may have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, check your CAGE score. It’s quick and easy.
Alternatively, if you make a commitment to a Dry January but can’t do it, you may well have a problem.
PS: Check out this video about the benefits of sobriety.
PPS: This guy quit alcohol for 30 days:
Diabetic Mediterranean Diet 
I didn’t know I had Factor V Leiden, went off alcohol to lose weight, got deep-vein thrombosis. If you’re not alcoholic, alcohol may have benefits – I bitterly regret my experiment. Check out https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/36/3/256/40240
Embracing Dry January was a transformative experience! This month-long alcohol detox not only reset my health but also heightened my clarity and energy. Discovering new non-alcoholic alternatives made the journey enjoyable. It’s a refreshing start to the year, promoting well-being and mindfulness. Highly recommend for a positive lifestyle shift!
Glad to hear that, Nandhini.