Thousands of people in the UK are giving up alcohol for the month of January. Welcome to Plain English, the podcast that goes at just the right speed for English language learners. Today is January 11, 2018. I’m Jeff and on this week’s episode, we’ll talk about two current events and two English words you should know. First up this week is Dry January, a movement based in the UK that encourages people to go without alcohol for the first month of the year. We’ll also talk about a new law in the US state of Oregon allowing some drivers to pump their own gas. Two words you should know this week are sober and quirky. We’ll practice those in the second half of the program.
Before we get started, I have some really exciting news. Many of you know that the full transcript of each show is available on the web site, PlainEnglish.com. Those of you who speak Spanish may also know that the transcripts are interactive; they show instant translations of difficult words and phrases from Spanish to English. The good news I have today is that we now have those translations available in both Chinese and French. So if you speak Chinese or French, and I know a lot of listeners are from China and France, then you have a new way of experiencing the program.
If you want to take advantage, head to the web site for this episode, which is PlainEnglish.com/12. Then find the tab for your language—Spanish, Chinese or French. And as you listen to the program, follow along with the transcript. When you get to a highlighted word, just hover your mouse over the word (or tap on it if you’re reading on your phone) and you’ll see the translation into your language. That’s for anyone who speaks Spanish, Chinese or French as a first language—and I hope to have more languages available soon.
Now that you’ve indulged me that one announcement, let’s get started with the first topic this week.
Giving up alcohol for ‘Dry January’
Last week we talked about how different people celebrate the New Year around the world. But this week let’s talk about what some people are doing in January—specifically, those who are observing Dry January by not having any alcoholic drinks for the first month of each year.
Dry January is a campaign that started in England in 2013, but has been practiced informally around the world for years. Its official sponsor in the UK is Alcohol Concern, a nonprofit that seeks to mitigate the harmful effects of alcohol. They trademarked the name and the UK government helps promote the idea.
What’s the point of being sober for a month? Participants say there are several benefits. A study by the University of Essex in 2015 found that 82% of people who completed a month of sobriety felt a sense of achievement, 79% saved money, 62% got better sleep, 62% felt they had more energy (probably because they got more sleep), and 49% lost weight. Think of all the calories that are in most alcoholic beverages—beer especially. Scientists have found other health benefits, too, including lower cholesterol and lower blood sugar.
Those are just the immediate benefits. There are some other longer-term benefits as well. The UK government found that 8% of people who completed a full month without alcohol were actually still alcohol-free six months later. Others say that after their dry month, they drink less often and when they do drink, they tend to have less each time. Some people find themselves under pressure to have a drink, either in social situations or as part of their career. Taking a full month off can give them practice declining a drink.
Some psychologists say that this is also a good opportunity to see if you might have a problem with alcohol. If it’s too difficult to give up drinking for a short period of time, you might have a problem. But most people who willingly participate in Dry January are moderate drinkers who just want to take a break after the holidays. For many people, the winter holidays include a lot of family gatherings, cocktail parties, and big meals; people feel that by January, they’re ready to take a break from alcohol and get the New Year off to a good start.
One study found that about 65% of people who start Dry January complete it successfully, but even those who don’t go a full 31 days still experience some of the benefits.
Some restaurants and bars in the UK are getting into the spirit, offering virgin cocktails based on juice or craft soda. Speaking of bars and restaurants, having a Dry January must be especially hard for all the people who work in the hospitality industry, who are around alcohol every day.
Not everyone thinks a Dry January is a great idea. Some advocates are concerned that people will over-indulge in February, wiping out many of January’s benefits. Others say there’s really no benefit for moderate drinkers since a month is too short a time period to make much difference. You have to be careful in February, too, because if you haven’t had a drink in a month, your tolerance for alcohol may be affected by the time you pick up your next drink. Still, there’s no real strong argument against it—and as long as you don’t overdo things in February, there’s probably no harm in laying off the sauce for a month.
I picked this story this week because I am among the people who abstain from alcohol every January. I’ve done it for a long time—not always in January, but always for a full month. I find that it’s nice to hit the pause button, take some time to focus on my health and sleep. I’ve settled on January because during the winter holiday season I find myself at parties, happy hours, friends’ houses, and with family—usually with wine or beer. I don’t drink too much, but during January I do find my sleep and diet improve.
Personally, I find that it’s not that difficult to do. I tend to move any bottles of wine I might have in the house so they’re out of sight. When I’m in a situation where I’d usually have a drink, I try to plan an alternative ahead of time. If I’m at home watching a game or a movie on TV, I make a cup of tea, just to have something to take my mind off the fact that I can’t have a beer or glass of wine. Green tea is good at night since it doesn’t have much caffeine, and it helps warm me up in the frigid Chicago winters.
Great stories make learning English fun
