A lot of people coped with alcohol in the year 2021.
The year began with an insurrection on the nation's capitol and is ending with another surge in COVID-19 cases. Dry January is a bad start to the new year.
Dry January is a term used by a group in London to encourage a healthier, alcohol-free lifestyle. The trend of putting alcohol aside for the first month of the year has taken off around the world. With Americans in the midst of a "sober-curious" movement, it could be a comeback year for teetotalling, especially for younger generations, who drink less and participate in Dry January more.
During the Pandemic there was a surge in drinking.
The New York Times reported on January 12 that some Americans felt sad and useless a week after the capitol insurrection.
The Confederate flag being displayed in the Capitol was the worst thing for me, I am of color. It felt self-preserving to have a hot warm dinner and nice wine.
Alcohol consumption has gone up during the Pandemic.
A survey conducted by the American Psychological Association found that one in four adults drink more to manage their stress. According to the Harris Poll, about a quarter of respondents reported drinking four or more alcoholic beverages for women and five or more for men in the month of August and September.
Alcohol consumption in the U.S. increased during the Pandemic, according to a study by the Rand Corporation. The study shows that women increased their drinking days.
Collective health in the US is affected by it. The Massachusetts General Hospital estimated this month that a short-term increase in consumption will result in thousands of deaths from liver disease by the year 2040.
There's still time to turn things around.
A growing movement of people.
Alcohol consumption may have increased this year, but that doesn't mean Dry January is out of the picture.
One in seven Americans took a break from alcohol in January 2021, according to polls from Morning Consult and YouGov. According to Morning Consult, there are reasons for a lifestyle change.
Alcohol Change UK, the charity that founded Dry January, reported that about one-sixth of the United Kingdom is planning to take part. 18% of adults will not drink alcohol next month.
A group of experts support the movement. Reducing the amount of alcohol a person consumes has benefits to their physical and mental health. According to the New York Times, paying attention to where a person is drinking can help curb excessive consumption.
The growth of a larger, "sober-curious" movement is growing in popularity among young people. Non-alcoholic beverage sales increased by 3% to $331 million last year.
Kim Cox, senior vice president of the company, told Insider that more people are simply losing interest in alcohol and want to lead healthier lifestyles.
The data shows that younger people are drinking less.
Older generations have been consuming more in recent years. Research shows that more young people participate in Dry January in larger numbers than older people, and that alcohol purchases decrease at the beginning of the year and increase by February.
The conditions are better than they were a year ago. Dry January might help.
