Dry January is not – looking out the window – a very poor weather prediction, but rather an increasingly popular new year health-kick that follows on superbly well from the nation’s marathon eating and drinking that reached a fire-cracking climax at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
The Season of Binge probably commenced with Halloween, continued during the Big-Night-In tournament of autumn and then sailed through the extended festive season of office parties and intensified liquid socialising, all leading up to the Christmas feasting and carousing Olympiad.
It would not be surprising, after all this fun and indulgence, to discover a few extra pounds had smuggled their way onto the hips. The Fitness Club industry depends upon glimpsing ourselves in the mirror as new people by the time January comes around – just not perhaps the people we would prefer to see looking back at us.
While flab might mostly be result of rich living and fine dining, Dry January is concerned less with weight and outward appearance, and more with giving your insides a chance to recover from over-indulgence. It is not unusual to feel a bit sluggish and green around the gills after the Christmas period, and the Dry January movement – Alcohol Concern (now Alcohol Change UK) launched its first annual campaign 12 years ago – takes advantage of the natural desire on the morning of January 1 to skip the pub at lunchtime, using the opportunity as a springboard to swerve the booze for as much of the month as you can, without having to admit any sort of dependency or attend AA meetings.
There is strength in numbers, and knowing that the whole country is pulling together (rather than pulling pints) can help you hold off and give your poor punished organs a chance to recover: uniquely, the liver can indeed rebuild itself to a pretty much pristine state if it has not been irreversibly nuked over the years.
What it means to be dry
So Dry January is a welcoming, “soft” challenge for giving up alcohol for the first month of the year, giving the body a chance to recover its temporarily lost athletic poise and bounce, helped by the fact that it is indeed cold and not dry outside, and we have no money left to go out anyway.
“To be absolutely clear," says Alcohol Change UK, “this challenge is not a detox or for those with dependency issues. Instead, it’s aimed at the huge numbers of people who are steadily drinking a bit too much, too often, without realising the effect it may be having on their health.” CEO Dr Richard Piper points out that Dry January is a successful UK export, a trademarked programme designed and run by Alcohol Change UK and franchised to France, US, Switzerland, Italy, Norway & Germany.
He also points out that alcohol duty rates are (almost unbelievably) the lowest now that they have been for most of the last 40 years, representing a potentially serious loss to retailers if customers decide en masse to boycott this important revenue category of the convenience channel.
Fortunately, the development and increasing uptake of low and no alcohol products offers drinkers and retailers the perfect means of staying both sober and profitable during these potentially dry January days.
The fact is that ever more people are joining in with Dry January, and that this is a part of a more general and prolonged experiment with sobriety – especially among the more digitally-focussed younger generations. Some booze substitution may be accounted for by fizzy drinks and chamomile tea sales. But for those who truly enjoy the taste of grape, grain and hop, alcoholic alternatives are extremely well catered for by the no-and-low offering now available.
The no and low category began with legendarily bad-tasting beers in the 1980s, but the sector has been utterly transformed since then. Today, the range of brands is almost inexhaustible, combining original zero brews and mainstream labels that have issued their own low or no versions of traditional alcoholic brews in both cans and bottles.
Kingfisher Drinks, for example, launched its zero version in November (wholesale RRP of £19.99 for a pack of 24 bottles), while a month earlier, Molson Coors’ Cobra Beer appeared in an alcohol-free guise. Carlsberg 0.0 also launched in 2023, joining the established roster that includes Heineken’s 0.0 alcohol-free offering, Peroni’s and of course the groundbreaking zero-alcohol stout, Guiness 0.0 and Asahi’s 2022 0.0 label, alongside others too numerous to mention. Pale Ale is well represented, including BrewDog’s zero alcohol version of its popular Punk IPA brew, Punk AF.
Other categories have joined the no and low revolution (probably the correct word), and we now see alcohol-free craft ciders – such as Maiden Mill’s two 0.5% ABV options, named Voyage and Flyer, with spirits increasingly represented: not just gin, which began with Seedlip and now includes Tanqueray, Gordon’s, Whitley Neill (whose zero range mirrors the flavours of its core range, with Rhubarb & Ginger, Raspberry, Blood Orange, as well as a Spiced Dry).
Now there are options in Rum, including the Dead Man’s Fingers brand and Captain Morgan’s Spiced Gold 0.0 – and with the zero-alcohol sector in a state of healthy growth and expansion, we can only expect more products to appear during 2024.
Wine, too, has climbed on to the wagon. Non-alcoholic wine such as the Schloer brand and the excellent Eisberg have been available for decades, but choice within traditional alcoholic brands is now widening, with examples like Black Tower well-embedded in the sector, and Accolade Wines’ zero alcohol ‘&Then’ label.
Energy drinks can of course replace some of the excitement and stimulation of alcoholic beverages, and now other alternatives such as Virtue Drinks natural caffeine drink, Superpower with Yerba Mate – a South American-origin herbal based beverage. Or there is a CBD option in Trip, “the official soft drink of Dry January”, a campaign spearheaded by mental health advocate Roman Kemp, and claimed to be the UK’s fastest growing soft drinks brand.
Lower and lower
Daisy Collingwood of The Portman Group reports that its sixth annual survey (in partnership with YouGov) shows that young people are the biggest consumers of low and no alcohol alternatives, with nearly half (44 per cent) of 18–24-year-olds considering themselves either an occasional or regular drinker of alcohol alternatives. This compares to just 31 per cent in the 2022 survey – an increase of 25 per cent in the space of a year.
“Trends also show that the younger generation are now the most sober age group overall, with 39 per cent of 18–24-year-olds not drinking alcohol at all,” she adds – and that group is no doubt the chamomile tea and soft drinks crowd.
The others are of more interest for Dry January in particular, since they are merely drinking less and not necessarily quitting. For them, zero beer might be just the job.
The Portman Group results show how these products have contributed to increasing moderation among UK drinkers, says Collingwood, "with a rise in respondents who have seen their alcohol consumption decrease as a result of low and no alcohol products (23 per cent compared to 21 per cent in 2022) and over a third of those surveyed now consider themselves an occasional or regular drinker of alcohol alternatives – a significant increase from 2022 (29 per cent).
Indeed, the no-and-low offer appears to be the perfect way to mix sobriety with socialising, and a good section to stock up on early in the year.
“Our research continues to tell a positive story of how low and no products have become an important and normal part of how the UK public moderate their drinking and tackle potential harm – with three quarters of UK drinkers having at least tried a low and no alcohol alternative, compared to a third of non-drinkers.
Matt Lambert, CEO of the Portman Group said: “It is welcome to see a further rise in the popularity of low and no alcohol alternatives as well as further evidence of how they are an important tool to help UK drinkers, particularly younger adults, to drink responsibly.”
Reasons to be cheerful
The benefits of giving up drink even temporarily can be felt with pleasing swiftness – many of them within a day or two, as described by the doctors at Healthline:
Losing weight – an alcohol no-brainer: and it’s not only the alcoholic calories that won’t be missed. alcohol is (also) a sugar rush that creates “false” hunger, so you eat more than you need, too. Stay sober to stay slimmer!
Deeply sleeping – while alcohol may render you unconscious, it destroys your rest, interrupting sleep cycles (even if you don’t wake up with a raging thirst and a pounding heart), sapping your energy and depressing your mood.
Increasing mental capacity – this could be a “no-brainer”, because as you lose the hangover head-fog, the world will be restored in its crystalline perfection, becoming easier to understand and navigate. You will be happier; research suggests that dementia might become less likely.
Repairing liver damage – positive changes can occur within weeks of going dry, enabling the liver to maximise its de-toxifying role without being “bed-blocked” by booze. It will be better able to deal with other sugars, fats and hormones to help keep you glossy and pert.
Fighting heart disease – too much alcohol leads to an excess of small particle cholesterols in the blood (free radicals) which can lead to crackly, hardened arteries and catastrophic cardio events. Lay off the liquor and keep those arteries sleek, silky and supple.
Reducing cancer risks – alcohol, like tobacco, is a proven carcinogen, particularly resulting in tumours of the head and neck, breast, liver and bowel. We all have to die of something, but let’s not hurry it up, eh?
Just dry it
The people at Ritual Zero Proof drinks have issued some top-grade advice and guidelines to help you through the first dry days:
Dry January Symptoms – It is worth noting that going completely sober after periods of excessive drinking can actually lead to some “Dry January Symptoms”. Some of these side effects of Dry January (or any dry month) can include shaky hands, anxiety, and light insomnia. Let’s clear something up really quickly; experiencing any of these symptoms does NOT mean that you have a drinking problem. The point of any dry month is to give your body a chance to detox and allow you to personally evaluate the role that alcohol plays in your life.
Dry January tips – these include taking a look at your calendar at the start of every week, and thinking about situations you might be in where you might be tempted to have a drink. For example, if you plan to meet some friends after work, consider choosing a location that has non-alcoholic drinks available, or otherwise plan out what you want to order from the menu in advance. Alternatively, consider inviting friends and family over for a game night inside!
Another Dry January tip for setting yourself up for success is to remove all alcohol from your house. Out of sight, out of mind. Much as dieticians might advise you to remove junk food from your house, if you remove the temptation from your sight, you are significantly less likely to consume alcohol. What if you have some nice bottles of bourbon or wine? Not to worry. Take a little time to package them delicately and store them away where it won’t be as easy to access them. Though it may sound unorthodox, storing nice bottles of alcohol away for after January will remove the temptation, while simultaneously giving you something to look forward to at the end of the month for all your hard work!
A few final tips : use the buddy system! If you have a gym buddy, friend, or partner who is also considering health goals going into the new year, encourage them to join you in a sober January. This will help you both stay accountable to each other, as well as your goals, and can make all the difference when motivation starts to fail halfway through the month.
Alcohol Change UK is encouraging people to download their free app, Try Dry (Try Dry: the app for Dry January and beyond | Alcohol Change UK), to take part in Dry January and double their chances of a successful alcohol-free month, as a study by the University of Sussex published in 2020 found that those who take part in Dry January via the app and/or free email coaching programme by the charity are twice as likely to have a completely alcohol-free month, compared to those who try to avoid alcohol in January on their own, and have significantly improved wellbeing and healthier drinking six months later.
Employees from cash handling experts Volumatic have taken part in a special "Wear It Pink" day to raise money for cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now.
Around 40 staff members based at Volumatic’s Head Office in Coventry donned something pink – from socks, scarves and wigs to full head-to-toe outfits in pink, to raise funds for a charity very close to their hearts.
Having been affected by breast cancer both within her own family and team at work, Volumatic Customer Service Representative Mandy House organised the charity day, which took place on 18 October to help raise money for the 600,000 people currently living with breast cancer in the UK.
Not only did Mandy encourage her colleagues to wear something pink for the day and decorate the staff canteen in pink, but she also arranged a pink bake sale, held games and sweepstakes for everyone to take part in throughout the day, all themed around the charity.
Mandy also made an impassioned speech at the start of the day, encouraging everyone to check themselves regularly for signs of cancer and to seek medical help for even the slightest concern – highlighting that prompt action really can make a difference and save lives.
Thanks to the generosity of everyone throughout the day, the Volumatic team raised £656, a sum that was then doubled by the Volumatic Board, to make a fantastic final total of £1,312.
Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity with the aim of changing the lives of anyone affected by breast cancer with both research and support. As well as funding world-class researchers to develop better treatments, preventable measures and earlier diagnoses, they also provide a helpline, health information and support services for those affected and their loved ones.
Mandy, who has worked for Volumatic for over 25 years, was thrilled with the amount of money raised and praised her colleagues for their fundraising efforts. “A huge thanks to everyone at Volumatic for taking part in ‘Wear It Pink’ day. It was so amazing to see so many in pink – especially our Sales Manager Tom, who wore pink shorts for the day! I personally laughed a lot on Friday and the spirit of Volumatic and the coming together was fantastic!”
James Harris, Managing Director at Volumatic, said: “We always choose a different charity to support every year, and when Mandy suggested raising money for Breast Cancer Now, we all wanted to get behind the ‘Wear It Pink’ day for this extremely worthy cause.
“Cancer is a terrible disease in all its forms and several members of the Volumatic team are dealing with it right now, either personally or through their immediate family. I would like to thank Mandy for leading this fundraiser to help treatment continue to get better for all concerned,” he added.
Following the initial response condemning the Budget as 'the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory' from the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), members have shared their stark reactions to the triple burden of doubled business rates, increased National Insurance, and higher minimum wage costs.
Multiple retailers have calculated specific impacts on their businesses, with costs ranging from £90,000 to £150,000 per year.
"This budget was horrendous for us as a company. Estimated costs to be around £110,000 - £120,000 per year," said Andrew Massey of Masseys DIY in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
The immediate impact on employment is already evident. Peter Massey of R Massey & Son Ltd, employing 38 staff, said: "We decided last night that we will not replace the next two members of staff that leave. We are also considering what to do with our coffee shop that employs quite a few youngsters."
Kevin Arthur of Pewsey RadioVision in Wiltshire highlighted the broader staffing implications: "The minimum wage rising to £25.5k per year (40hr week) is scandalous. Having to pay this type of salary for your most basic of employees will mean less employees, resentment amongst 'more valuable' staff who believe they are 'worth' far more than a basic employee, and less ability to pay staff bonuses. I am now looking to reduce staff hours, reduce staff numbers, and Christmas bonuses will be curtailed and any other 'perks' reduced."
A store owner in the South West, whose business has traded for over a century, revealed: "Prior to the budget we were looking at taking on a new store and creating 12 new jobs. The colossal impact that Labour has imposed on our business means that not only will this new store not happen, but we will be reviewing our sites and having to make redundancies in order to survive."
William Coe, of Coes in Ipswich, highlighted the challenge facing customer-focused businesses: "We all want the same thing – Growth – however for growth businesses need to make a profit to enable them to invest. With the cost rises put upon them yesterday this gets harder and harder especially for the retail and leisure sectors where the ability to make savings through technology is limited."
John Jones, Managing Partner of Philip Morris Direct in Hereford, warned: "We've been saying for months that the issue for small business is the cumulative effect of so many extra costs. These add up to a level of costs that just aren't sustainable, and I fear there will be a blood bath of small business on the high street."
The impact threatens the very existence of some long-established businesses.
A West Midlands clothing retailer with over 100 years of trading history confirmed they are "closing the doors in the near future," adding that "the cumulative effect of the rate hike, NI increase and the Minimum Living Wage increases mean that already emptying towns will become wastelands."
For smaller independents, the situation is particularly acute. Tracey Clark of Albert's Hardware in Somerset revealed: "I work in excess of 70 hrs a week with little to no personal financial gain. I can't see myself surviving the next six months."
The disparity between high street retailers and online competition was highlighted by several members, with concerns raised about UK-based businesses bearing the cost burden while international competitors selling cheap imported clothing operate with minimal tax liability.
A Greater Manchester fashion retailer emphasised the disconnect between policy makers and small business reality: "They are completely detached from reality. They need someone advising that has lived and breathed a small business. There should at least have been a threshold where businesses below a certain turnover aren't hit by these things."
The impact extends beyond retail to related sectors.
A West Midlands builders' merchant warned of broader economic consequences. The owner said: "The Government has put the boot in to small business. We are paying for everything. Farmers are in real trouble now and the economy will suffer. They went round telling businesses rates were unfair and would sort it out, then just put them up. They lied to us all and now jobs will go and inflation will rise."
Many retailers expressed frustration at what they see as broken promises. A Birmingham-based jewellery store owner said: "High Streets are the cash cow for Governments and when most have disappeared, they will scratch their heads and wonder why."
The combined impact of these measures threatens not just individual businesses but entire local economies. With many retailers already reporting worse trading conditions - Bira's recent survey showed 46% reported worse trading in early 2024 compared to 2023 - these additional costs could prove the final straw for many independent businesses.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira said: "For some, the Budget has forced immediate operational decisions. Several retailers mentioned reviewing staffing levels, reconsidering expansion plans, and in some cases, accelerating closure plans. The impact on future generations is particularly concerning, with multiple family businesses questioning their long-term viability."
A Midlands hardware store owner summed up the common challenge: "This will make trading near impossible with wage increases and the business rates, and no one wants to pay any more for goods."
Brocks at Rockwell Green, a Premier-branded convenience store near Wellington, Somerset is on the market as owners Simon and Rachel Brock are now looking to retire - after running the store for nearly 25 years.
Selling a wide range of products and everyday essentials, the store is “well-established and popular” among both the local communities.
“It has been a pleasure running the store for the last 23 years and serving the local community. It has been a tough decision to sell but we felt now was the best time to retire,” Simon said.
Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has been instructed to market the property, which also features a variety of storage spaces, offices and independently accessed three-bedroom accommodation.
Matthew McFarlane, business agent at Christie & Co who is managing the sale, commented: “This is a fabulous store and property, offering a large sales area, great storeroom and residential accommodation. The sales figures are very strong which represents an excellent opportunity for corporate buyers or established multi operators.”
Wrexham Lager Beer Co Ltd, the oldest lager brewery still existing in Britain that has been brewing in Wales since 1882, has announced Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds as new co-owners of the company alongside the Roberts family.
The acquisition was made by Red Dragon Ventures, a joint venture formed by The R.R. McReynolds Company, majority owner of Wrexham AFC, and the Allyn family of Skaneateles, New York. Red Dragon Ventures was created to drive growth in the Wrexham community and Wrexham AFC.
This transaction represents another landmark deal for the Welsh town and will considerably scale up Wrexham Lager’s infrastructure and international production, distribution, and marketing efforts.
“As co-chairmen of Wrexham AFC we have learned a lot,” said Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. “The connection between club and community, the intricacies of the offsides rule and the occasional need for beer – especially after finance meetings. Wrexham Lager has a 140-year-old recipe and a storied history and we’re excited to help write its next chapter.”
The Roberts family, who have owned and operated the business since 2011, will maintain an active role within the business, continuing to oversee quality control across all markets, local brewery operations, and community engagement projects.
Recently appointed chief executive James Wright will continue to lead the business after already overseeing rapid UK growth, as well as international expansion into Australia, Japan, and Scandinavia. Distribution in the US and Canada is set to go live in the coming months.
“This is a brand with great heritage – the oldest lager brewery in Great Britain, once enjoyed across the world,” Wright said. “So, to have Rob and Ryan onboard as we embark on international expansion is huge for us. They have been doing wonders for the town of Wrexham and strongly share our passion for once again seeing Wrexham Lager enjoyed in all the far-flung corners of the globe.”
Wrexham Lager Beer Co currently produces the 4% ABV Wrexham Lager, 5% ABV Wrexham Lager Export, and recently introduced 4.6% ABV Pilsener. The 4% Wrexham Lager is produced using an original recipe from 140 years ago that was once available in the world-famous Harrods luxury department store in London, as well as chosen as the only lager to be served on the White Star Line’s Titanic.
Ten global beverage companies have joined forces under a new industry-wide consortium, called REfresh Alliance, which is designed to help accelerate renewable energy adoption across the industry’s supply chain.
The new initiative invites additional companies from across the beverage industry to pool and scale their resources to remove barriers to renewable energy adoption in the supply chain, provide education on best market practices and support the industry’s transition to Net Zero.
Companies currently part of the REfresh Alliance include: Bacardi, Carlsberg Group, Constellation Brands, Diageo, Heineken, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Pernod Ricard, The Coca-Cola Company and Whyte & Mackay.
The programme is managed by leading energy solution provider, Enel X. Through its Advisory Services division, Enel X connects the participants with renewable energy providers and supports renewable energy transactions, aiming to accelerate renewable energy adoption.
The programe also features a dedicated educational platform to help program participants prepare for renewable energy adoption.
Scope 3 emissions, which are not directly produced by a company but from its supply chain, often account for approximately 90 per cent of a beverage company’s carbon footprint. As suppliers continue to face a number of barriers to decarbonisation, REfresh has already engaged with more than 300 suppliers to discuss their involvement in the programme as it aims to support their adoption of renewable energy solutions.
“We have long recognised the need for industry collaboration to deliver the most impact and to accelerate the transition across our supply chains,” Ralf Peters, chief procurement officer of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), and chairman, Coca-Cola Cross Enterprise Procurement Group (CEPG), said.
“I know from my experience across the Coca-Cola system that supporting our supply partners is a key part of our sustainability action – and that encouraging them to transition to renewables is one of the most impactful things we can do to help decarbonise their businesses, and to do the same in ours.”
Hervé Le Faou, chief procurement officer of Heineken, said: “Scope 3 emissions are one of the biggest challenges that the industry faces in delivering on our Net Zero ambitions. We must work together to identify areas of our supply chains where we can pool our resources to accelerate this transition for our suppliers. We look forward to working with other beverage companies to achieve this and accelerate the decarbonization of our industry.”
Jane Liang, chief procurement officer of Diageo, said: “The climate crisis is the most pressing issue of our time and the transition to Net Zero is becoming increasingly important. However, there is only so much we can do as individual businesses. The REfresh Alliance will drive collective action within the industry to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. We are calling on all companies and suppliers within the industry to join us and support the industry in its transition to Net Zero.”
REfresh intends to initially launch in the mature renewable energy markets of Europe and North America, where it will be able to use existing networks to accelerate impact in support of the industry’s decarbonization efforts. As it continues to grow, the consortium will look to expand to other markets and welcome businesses from across the beverage industry to join it in supporting suppliers in their decarbonization journeys.