Demi-Sec January

This time last year I was coming to the end of my fourth or fifth Dry January. I decided to take on the challenge because the previous year I lost control of my usual drinking rules. It was not that I spent the year in a state of permanent intoxication, rather I adopted – to put it mildly – a “screw it” mentality. There were only 26 days on which I did not have an alcoholic drink, due to my carefree attitude and a number of emotional challenges. Often, my drinking would consist only of a can or two of beer and/or a glass or two of wine – hardly a non-stop party of drunken bawdiness.

My decision to take on Dry January 2025 was an attempt to regain control of my drinking and to reinstate to my old drinking rules – i.e., at least 2 days of abstinence per week. In this I was successful – I had 151 days of abstinence (approximately 41.4% abstinence over the year). It is probably a bit sad that I keep such detailed records. This was borne of my career in psychology being mostly in the field of alcohol and other substance misuse. This alerted me to the extensive harm caused by excessive drinking and the ease with which one could slip over the line from control to loss of control.

Another factor influencing my decision was the slow and sad acknowledgement that I have somehow entered the “elderly” population, which during my teaching of trainee clinical psychologists I was at pains to point out carried increased risks when it came to alcohol consumption. Who knew I would join their ranks?! The risks arise from changes in metabolism (the liver finds it more difficult to break down the alcohol), effects on cognitive function (“Where did I put that glass of wine?”), increased risk of falling over, and multiple harmful effects on physiological health (e.g., blood pressure).

Given my success in re-establishing my drinking rules throughout 2025, I decided not to take on the Dry January challenge for 2026. The decision was also shaped to some extent by further emotional challenges as the year got under way. I am not saying that drinking is a solution to these life problems, but it is a pleasure and temporary refuge that I value – and respect.

So, my compromise was to instigate Demi-Sec January – literally translated as “half dry”. I introduced the rule that I would have at least 3 days of abstinence per week. I have achieved this thus far – in fact, to date, I have hit 50% abstinence. I am not sure if I will continue this for the rest of the year. However, the original 2 days of abstinence per week will remain in place. At least you have been spared my daily posts about alcohol that I posted throughout last January! Which is not to say that there will not be further posts on my progress…