Press Release: Dry January
New data suggests that males who regularly drink in pubs in Great Britain could enjoy a monthly saving of around £115 by taking part in Dry January.
Changes in the Alcohol Duty regulations in August 2023 meant that alcoholic beverages were subject to rising prices. In addition to this, the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in price increases on certain food and drinks. Data released in September 2023 stated that the cost of beer was 13.5% higher in August 2023 than it was a year before. Whisky, gin and vodka also saw an annual hike of 8.6%.
Viva Money has carried out research to uncover how much the average Brit spends on alcohol per month.
In December 2022, the NHS published the 2021 Health Survey for England, which revealed that the average drinker in the UK consumes approximately 11.6 units of alcohol per week: 14.7 units for men, and 8.5 units for women. For males, this figure equates to 58.8 units per month.
According to the Institute of Alcohol Studies, the average price of alcohol per unit is £1.78, meaning the typical male drinker in the UK could be spending up to £115.87 a month on booze.
What is Dry January?
Dry January is a campaign backed by Alcohol Change, and encourages people to go alcohol-free for 31 days. It was first established in 2013, when 4,000 people vowed to boot the bottle for a whole month. In 2023, over 175,000 took on the challenge.
Figures released by Alcohol Change revealed that 86% of those taking part in Dry January save money.
What are the health benefits of reducing your alcohol intake?
The NHS website states that the short-term benefits of reducing your alcohol intake include less fatigue, increased energy levels and improvements in the condition of your skin.
Long-term, you may notice lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, weight loss, and a decrease in the risk of strokes, cancer and liver disease.
Dan Whittaker, a Personal Finance Expert from Vivamoney.co.uk, says, “The festive period may leave us out of pocket, and on top of this, the season can also come hand-in-hand with increased eating and drinking. Come New Year, many of us are looking for ways to feel healthier and replenish our funds. Dry January could have numerous benefits for both our wellbeing and our wallets.”
Dan shares some ideas on how to successfully ace Dry January.
1. “Start the New Year with a detox by clearing your house of any leftover alcohol to avoid temptation. Keep that streak going!”
2. “Let your friends and family know that you’re doing Dry January, so they can support you. You may even inspire others to give it a go, too.”
3. “Try to steer clear of situations where you’d usually have a drink. For example, if you and your mates usually meet at the pub every weekend, why not suggest a hike instead, or a catch-up over breakfast? Getting everyone involved in activities that don’t involve drinking are a great way to socialise while boosting the morale of and helping out those smashing their Dry January target.”
4. “Why not spend some time with the family and organise some wholesome family days out. Don’t tempt yourself by spending all your time with others who are drinking, there are plenty of low-cost family activities such as, visiting a historical attraction – which would be educational for the kids – or exploring a nature trail to take in that fresh air with a little bit of outdoor exercise.”
5. “Invite friends round and host a mocktail-making night. This is the perfect tonic to prove that you can have fun without alcohol! Check out TikTok and YouTube for alcohol-free inspiration and mocktail recipes to create a range of tasty non-alcoholic drinks.”
6. “Keep yourself busy by taking up a new hobby. Whether it’s joining the local tennis club, getting into running, or learning to cook, now’s the time to do it. The more you distract yourself, the less likely you are to think about having a drink.”
Viva Money has investigated how much you could save by participating in Dry January.
-ENDS-
About Viva Money
Viva Money is not a lender but is a fully regulated and authorised credit broker. Viva Money is a registered Trading Name of Digitonomy Limited, Registered in England and Wales (Company number 08385135), Registered Office; Steam Mill Business Centre, Steam Mill Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 5AN. Digitonomy Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register under reference number: 690249. Licenced by the Information Commissioners Office, (registration number ZA007309)
Dan has worked in the consumer finance sector for over a decade in a number of roles, including developing and maintaining commercial partnerships, marketing, and digital development.
Dan has strong market and product knowledge across a range of consumer finance products including, but not limited to, credit cards, savings, loans, and mortgages.
Methodology:
· Viva Money looked into information provided on 2021 Health Survey for England to determine the average amount of alcohol consumed in the UK by males each week. The approximate figure was 14.7 units.
· The Institute of Alcohol Studies revealed that the average price of alcohol per unit is £1.78.
· To work out the average monthly alcohol spend for males in the UK, we used the following methodology:
Average weekly units (14.7) X weeks in a year (52.14) = units per year (766.458)
Units per year (766.458) divided by days in a year (365) = units per day (2.099)
Units per day (2.099) X days in January (31) = units for January (65.09)
Units for January (65.09) X cost per unit (£1.78).
Total cost: £115.87.
Resources:
Alcohol Change: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/
Institue of Alcohol Studes: https://www.ias.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/The-price-of-alcohol-1.pdf