For its fourth edition, the Dry January – Le Défi De Janvier confirms its success with the French: questioning its consumption is no longer a taboo in our country. Despite the contrary initiatives of the alcohol lobbies,
associations, patient groups, local authorities, mutual funds, hospital federations and learned societies intend to continue their commitment to this public health campaign.
This January 31 is for millions of French people the last day of their alcohol break. But for these participants in the Défi De Janvier – Dry January, it is above all the beginning of a new relationship with alcohol: studies show that a majority of participants continue to drink less often and in smaller quantities, even several months following January!
Because this fourth edition of Dry January – Le Défi De Janvier has confirmed the success of previous years:
– More than 16,000 registered on the site
– According to an IFOP poll last December, nearly a third of French people over the age of 18 planned to take part in the challenge, i.e. 17 million people
The action of alcohol lobbies does not prevent the French from questioning their consumption
Marketing operations, pressure on local elected officials and the government… This year once more, the alcohol lobby tried to blur the messages on Le Défi De Janvier – Dry January. Without success, as shown once once more by the participation figures but also by the associative dynamics and the ever-increasing enthusiasm of the participants on the social networks!
« My motivation is to ensure that the non-consumption of alcohol during a meal, a party or other is no longer stigmatizing”.
— Catherine, participant in Finistère
« I started Dry January – Le Défi De Janvier as a snub to the alcohol lobby and the politics associated with it! But in the end, I plan to change my habits throughout the year: to drink only when I feel like it, and not passively because I am invited to do so”.
— Cédric, participant in Hauts-de-Seine
Year following year, Le Défi De Janvier – Dry January continues to offer all those who wonder regarding their alcohol consumption tools to take a break. They thus concretely experience the benefits of stopping alcohol for their health, their well-being and their savings. By quitting alcohol, participants are better able to identify which drinks they are reflexively drinking and which ones they really want. After January, they are able to make informed decisions regarding their own consumption.
A collective campaign and an ever-increasing dynamic
The success of Dry January – Le Défi De Janvier is also the success of an unprecedented collective approach for a public health campaign in France: without the support of the State but with the contributions of associations, federations, companies scholars, patient groups, communities, mutuals and hospital services.
It is this diversity of actors, the information and the motivational messages which allow each year to reach more and more people and which will continue in the years to come!
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook : @DryJanuaryFR • dryjanuary.fr
The Facebook support group: facebook.com/groups/ledefidejanvier
