Season 5 Episode 6

Dry Beyond January

“New year, new me.” Each year, as the clock strikes midnight on January 1^st, millions of people around the world embark on a journey of personal growth through their New Year’s resolutions. Particularly, millions of adults participate in what’s known as Dry January, a resolution to abstain from alcohol consumption for the first month of the year. Dry January began as a 2011 movement in the UK, quickly spreading to the U.S. in the years following. Those who participate in Dry January and abstain from alcohol are more likely than adults who drink to experience better health, psychological well-being, and more control over drinking in general. Around 35-40% of U.S. adults pledge to participate each year, but only about 16% follow through for the entire month. Beyond New Year’s resolutions, it’s hard to not drink in American society.

In the U.S., over 60% of people drink alcohol, amassing to an average of 11 standard drinks per week, but many experts say that more than 7 drinks per week is excessive. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently released an advisory for alcohol and cancer risk, stating that alcohol consumption is the leading preventable cause of cancer. Alcohol is responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the U.S., but less than half of U.S. adults discuss the cancer risks of alcohol with their health care providers. Drinking culture in the U.S. demands our participation in alcohol consumption, placing societal pressure on top of an already addictive activity. How can we help people stay “dry” beyond January, or at least restrict their alcohol intake to a more moderate, “sober-ish” level? How can we push against our cultural norms while staying safe and healthy? What can public health do to promote these healthy behaviors and make limited drinking more acceptable?

In this episode of PHPod, host Abby Varker speaks with Drs. Neeral Shah and Kara Wiseman from the University of Virginia School of Medicine about alcohol consumption and public health initiatives to promote healthy drinking habits amidst social pressures. Shah is a physician and associate professor of medicine in hepatology and gastroenterology, specializing in liver disease. Wiseman is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, specializing in behaviors relevant to cancer prevention, including smoking, alcohol use, diet, and physical activity.