Drinkers who try to cut down by keeping January dry are likely to have as much success as most people do with their New Year resolutions, academics said yesterday.
Six months on they are no more likely to have cut their alcohol intake than any other drinkers, they found.
The findings by a team of researchers from Bristol University suggests that making a vow to stay dry in January is unlikely to be enough if someone wants to cut their consumption.
Dr Frank de Vocht of Bristol Medical School said: ‘We wanted to find out if motivation alone can limit intake. Sadly, although people start with good intentions, our results suggest that something more is required for those intentions to make a difference.’
Drinkers who try to cut down by keeping January dry are likely to have as much success as most people do with their New Year resolutions, academics said
Researchers interviewed nearly 3,000 drinkers whose intake was considered large enough to risk their health, and found that one in five said they wanted to cut alcohol consumption.
Those who pledged to cut back said they wanted to avoid health problems, save money, lose weight and improve their fitness.
But when they came back six months later, they found that drinkers who said they had no plans to cut back had reduced intake by the same amount as those who promised they would.
The failure of will power alone to affect levels of drinking means large numbers of people who promise themselves they will stay away from drink for a month after New Year are doomed to return to their old habits even if they do survive without a drink through January.
Six months on they are no more likely to have cut their alcohol intake than any other drinkers, the team from Bristol University found
The study suggested that people who want to make long-term cuts in their drinking are more likely to succeed with outside encouragement, for example by signing up to the Dry January campaign run by Alcohol Concern and other charities. This provides a progress calendar and regular messages about the money and calories a user is saving if they stay dry.
Dr de Vocht said: ‘Alcohol consumption is of particular concern to the UK’s public health. For people who are serious in their intention to reduce consumption, obtaining structural support, for example by signing up to the Dry January campaign, may help.
‘Alternatively, smartphone appls are also being tested as a way to help people reduce their intake, but it is too early to say whether these can make a difference.’