Dry January is at the centre of a political row in France after more than 45 professors of addiction studies signed a letter urging the state to promote a month of abstinence from alcohol.
A group of senior academics and doctors working on addiction have written to the French health minister to say that not enough is being done by the state to campaign on alcohol risks, and the government should support an alcohol-free month at the start of the year.
Dry January, which started in the UK 10 years ago, was introduced to France in 2020 as the “défi de janvier”, or January challenge, promoted by health charities. It has grown in popularity with more than 60% of French people wanting to try it in 2024, according to a BVA poll for the Association Addictions France, but the French state health body has not promoted dry January and politicians are reluctant to get onboard. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Saturday, December 30, 2023
Good luck to those doing 'Dry January' this year. I certainly shan't be participating in this month of abstinence. I don't feel I need to. I went from early June to early December this year without a drop of alcohol, in order to cleanse my liver. I think all that time without a drink in one year is quite enough. I will say, however, that being without alcohol for such a long period of time was easier than I would have throught possible. Of course I should add that I haven't smoked since early April 2022 either. So I don't want to overdo things by giving up alcohol again this January. Abstinence is all well and good, but there is no need to go over the top. – © Mark Alexander
