Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Health and Fitness

    Attempting Dry Jan? Statistically, this is when you're most likely to give up

    Don't worry, you're far from alone.

    Ally Head's avatar
    By Ally Head
    Published 6 January 2022 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    dry Jan
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Don't worry, you're far from alone.

    January marks the start of a new year and with it, many people making goals for the year ahead. Many will take up a new sport, like running or weight training, others, a new skill or form of self-care, and many across the globe will embark on Dry January, a full 31 days without booze.

    While living sans alcohol is a choice many make regularly, for others, a glass of wine or G&T is a way to wind down after a busy week. Everything in moderation, right?

    That being said, Dry January can be hard, especially as the first month of the year is usually the coldest. Last year, the UK was locked down and this year, while not being in a full lockdown, we are facing Plan B restrictions and being asked to work from home, where possible.

    So, when are you most likely to break if you're already dreaming of a soothing glass of Pinot Noir to accompany your bubble bath? Good question. Surprisingly, research has shown that half of those attempting actually give up on a certain date of the month - but can you guess which?

    You may like
    • A woman running into the sunset on the beach "Soft Hermitting" Is Trending on TikTok—and Promises to Be the Antidote to Hustle Culture
    • A woman on the beach, in a bikini, eating some fruit I'm an Exercise Physiologist—If You’re Feeling Puffy, Tired, and Achy This Summer, These Everyday Habits Could Be Playing a Role
    • A woman lying on the floor scrolling on her phone If You're Frazzled, Overworked and At Your Limit, These 5 Science-Backed Tips Can Help Avoid Burnout

    New stats from Volvic show that 50% of UK adults - yep, half - will give up by the second week of trying. The exact date most people cave is 16th January, according to their research.

    They asked 2,000 people about how likely they were to complete the entire month booze-free, with three in 10 admitting that they'd be happy even if they reduced their alcohol intake for two weeks.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    A photo posted by on

    Reasons for drinking included relaxation, socialising, and FOMO - that's fear of missing out. Interestingly, 31% of people said they'd give in purely because they missed the taste of alcohol.

    While some will find Dry January helpful this year after a busy Christmas period, for others, restricting themselves while facing undoubtedly stressful headlines and global affairs (we're looking at you, Omicron) won't be the best move for their mental health - a doctor explains why, here.

    If that's you, our self-care ideas might just help - simple ways to boost your wellbeing (that are free!) and don't include cutting something out entirely.

    Another idea taking the fore this year is mindful drinking - similar to mindful movement - which simply dictates you drink less, rather than no alcohol whatsoever.

    Are you trying Dry Jan this year?

    Ally Head
    Ally Head
    Social Links Navigation
    Senior Health and Sustainability Editor

    Ally is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, a well-regarded wellness expert, ten-time marathoner, and Boston Qualifying runner.

    Utilising her impressive skillset and exceptional quality of writing, she pens investigative, review and first-person pieces that consistently demonstrate flair and originality.

    Ally manages a team of freelancers, oversees all commissioning and strategy for her pillars, and spearheads the brand's annual Women in Sport covers, interviewing and shooting the likes of Mary Earps, Millie Bright, and Ilona Maher. Shortlisted for three BSMEs and winning one in 2022, Ally lives and breathes her verticals: her eye for a story and connections within the wellness sphere are unrivalled. Follow Ally on Instagram for more.

    Read more
    A woman running into the sunset on the beach
    Wellbeing "Soft Hermitting" Is Trending on TikTok—and Promises to Be the Antidote to Hustle Culture
    A woman on the beach, in a bikini, eating some fruit
    Female health I'm an Exercise Physiologist—If You’re Feeling Puffy, Tired, and Achy This Summer, These Everyday Habits Could Be Playing a Role
     
     
    A woman lying on the floor scrolling on her phone
    Female health If You're Frazzled, Overworked and At Your Limit, These 5 Science-Backed Tips Can Help Avoid Burnout
    A woman scrolling on her phone, working on her laptop on the floor
    Female health 7 Avoidable Everyday Habits That Could Be Draining Your Energy Without You Realising
     
     
    Latest in Health and Fitness
    Health freelance writer Katie Sims trying a 20-minute wind down bedtime ritual
    Wellbeing I Swapped My Evening Scroll for a 20-Minute Wind-Down Ritual—Two Weeks Later, I Sleep Completely Differently
    Freelance writer Ash S during her bone broth experiment, where she drank it every day
    Nutrition I Drank Bone Broth Before Breakfast for a Month—and My Gut Health Wasn't the Only Thing That Changed
     
     
    A woman body brushing, taking a supplement, and heading to a workout class in gym city
    Female health I Asked Leading Women’s Health Experts About the Best Health Investment They’ve Ever Made. Their Answers Surprised Me
    Senior Health Editor trying Rapha, Pas Normal, Universal Colours, and Jelenew cycling gear, in Richmond Park and Brighton
    Fitness I'm a Fashion-Conscious Health Editor Who Just Started Cycling—6 Brands That Finally Nailed Style and Performance
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Charlotte Mensah Afro Hair
    Hair Charlotte Mensah Has Spent 40 Years Changing the Conversation Around Afro Hair—Now, Her Legacy Is Going on Display
    Aesthetics Safety
    Beauty "What Did She Expect?"—The Sexism and Classism Behind The UK’s Aesthetics Safety Crisis
     
     
    Wedding planning
    Relationships I Love My Fiancé, but I Resent the Emotional Labour of Planning Our Wedding
    Expensive beauty products, luxury beauty
    Beauty The Expensive Products That Are Actually Worth It, According to Beauty Editors Who’ve Tried Thousands
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.