Cocktails, beer, wine and eggnog are all a common drinks during the holidays, but tons of people across the globe are giving those alcoholic drinks up for “Dry January.”

Dr. Jennifer Mark, an addiction specialist, says to not be alarmed if you caught yourself pouring an extra glass of champagne this holiday season – she says its common for people to increase their drinking during the holiday season.  

Now that the holidays have come and gone, Dr. Mark says many should consider Dry January. It’s a global campaign started in the 2010s that encourages people to abstain from alcohol for all 31 days of the month.  

“Maybe for the first few days you feel uncomfortable but gradually you might feel much more healthy,” said Dr. Mark. “Not everybody needs to stop drinking and never drink again. For some people, it’s just important to drink a little bit less.” 

Some of the benefits of Dry January include weight loss, better sleep, improved mood, better heart and liver health, and even a reduced risk of cancer.  

According to research group Civic Science, 41% of adults said they planned to not drink for the month but only 16% actually followed through in 2023.  

“It always helps to have friends or a support network who know that you're doing that and can kind of support you through it,” said Dr. Mark.