Are you taking part in Dry January?

Published at 10 January, 2022 06:15.

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Many find that they are triggered by their previous connections with alcohol and smoking, if you take part in dry January, this may reduce your need to reach for a cigarette.

The main aim of dry January is to encourage those who drink to take a pause for thought, to reset the clock on their drinking. Some smokers might think that dealing with one thing at a time is plenty to be getting on with, but Dry January could provide smokers with a chance to think about whether your smoking and drinking habits are feeding off each other and about whether drinking is undermining your will to quit smoking.

Smoking was rooted in pub culture, and people would smoke whilst out drinking, but since it is no longer legal to smoke in public places, this has changed. However, alcohol and tobacco still go hand-in-hand. People who drink heavily are more likely to smoke and smokers tend to drink alcohol more often and more heavily than non-smokers.

 If you were to stop drinking, there are quite a few changes you will notice in yourself like:

  • Having more energy and better concentration
  • Get better quality sleep and wake up feeling more refreshed
  • Clearer thinking
  • Being more in tune with how much water your body needs
  • Losing weight

Why not swop out the bottle of prosecco for a nice bottle of flavoured sparkling water? Try out a new alcohol-free beverage instead, if you want to try and cut down on your alcohol, there are plenty of options available. 

There are many ways we can help you stop smoking:

Quit online - https://yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/pages/quit-online

Our online quit tool will allow you to create your own personal profile and will support you on a daily basis through your quit journey.

Telephone support - our advisors are on hand to answer any questions or provide additional support as you need it. You can call 0800 612 0011 (free from landlines) or 0330 660 1166.

Visit our frequently asked questions section to find out more: https://yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions