Published: 5th January 2023
January 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Dry January, an Alcohol Change UK initiative to encourage people to stay alcohol free for 31 days.
Encouraging your team to get involved in Dry January has many benefits, such us reduced absenteeism and lost productivity from alcohol, which are estimated to cost businesses £7.3bn each year[1]. In this blog we examine the many benefits that Dry January can have on the workplace.
Improved Mental Health
Alcohol and mental health are closely linked, as research shows people who drink alcohol are more likely to have mental health problems.
People with severe mental illness are also more likely to have alcohol problems as they attempt to ‘self-medicate’ to deal with difficult feelings or symptoms[2].
Improved mental health among employees will result in increased morale, commitment and productivity in the workplace.
Improved Physical Health
Drinking alcohol, however much, impacts the body. Whether this is short term issues like alcohol poisoning or sleep problems, or longer-term risks including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, liver disease and cancer.
Alcohol dehydrates your body, including the skin, and this happens every time you drink. This can cause your skin and eyes to look dull. But stopping drinking could help your skin’s hydration.
Regular drinking can affect the quality sleep making a person feel tired and sluggish during the working day. Reducing the amount you drink can lead to improved energy levels, a better quality of sleep and finding it easier to wake up in the morning.
Increased Productivity
The improvements to employees mental and physical health have a direct increase in staff productivity and engagement. According to Alcohol Change 70% of Dry January participants have better sleep and 66% have more energy.
Ideas on how to run a Dry January campaign and how to encourage your team to get involved can be found on the Alcohol Change website.
Workplace Testing
At SYNLAB Laboratory Services, we specialise in drug and alcohol testing in the workplace. We work with customers large and small to identify, deter and rule out drug and alcohol misuse.
A Drug and Alcohol Policy and testing programme can assist your organisation’s proactive commitment to the health and safety of individual employees, co-workers and customers. We offer a range of different drug and alcohol services to meet your business needs.
For more information visit our website or contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 01873 856688.
[1] https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january-for-workplaces
[2] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/alcohol-and-mental-health
