Prevalence and characteristics of participants in Dry January 2024

Findings from a general population survey in France

Bibliographic Data

ID22085654
AuthorsLouis-Ferdinand Lespine (0000-0001-5747-4838, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, corresponding author), Diane François (Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier), Julie Haesebaert (0000-0001-9109-5604, Inserm), Jean‐michel Delile (0000-0002-9073-2568, Fédération française de cardiologie), Jean-Michel Delile, Myriam Savy, Benjamin Tubiana-Rey (Fédération française de cardiologie), Mickaël Naassïla (0000-0002-9788-0918, Inserm), Julia de Ternay (0000-0003-4239-2113, Hospices Civils de Lyon), Benjamin Rolland (0000-0002-8666-3635, Lyon 1 Université)
Year2024
Volume12
Pages1466739-1466739
Publication date2024-12-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2024.1466739
PMID39687727
OpenAlexW4404937277
LanguageEN
References cited24

Background: Dry January is a one-month alcohol abstinence challenge for the general population running since 2013 in the United Kingdom, and 2020 in France. Dry January has gained increasing popularity among the public, but studies assessing the individual characteristics associated with awareness and participation remain sparse. Methods: Using quota sampling, a representative sample of 5,000 French adults completed an online cross-sectional survey between 8 and 17th January 2024. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regressions were used to explore demographic and alcohol-related characteristics associated with awareness of the Dry January campaign as well as participation. Results: Among 4,075 past-year alcohol users, 2,468 (61%) were aware of the "Dry January" campaign, of whom 497 (20%) were participants (12% of all alcohol users). Extrapolated to the entire adult French population, this corresponds to an estimated 4.5 million people participating in the Dry January 2024. Awareness was comparable between genders and across age groups, but was greater among individuals with higher occupational status, and lower among those living in Eastern regions of France. Individuals aware of the campaign were more likely to self-evaluate their drinking as "at risk" and to report high-risk consumption. Participation rates did not differ by gender, occupational status, or region but decreased with age. Compared to non-participants, Dry January participants were more likely to self-identify their drinking as at-risk, to be concerned about health-related effects of alcohol, to be concerned about their control (or lack thereof) over drinking, and to report hazardous use or possible alcohol use disorder. However, no evidence was found for an association between high-risk consumption based on AUDIT-C and participation. Among participants, aiming for reduction (vs. abstinence) and official registration (vs. unofficial participation), were associated with worsened alcohol-related measures. Conclusion: This study indicates a stable level of awareness, but encouraging participation in Dry January in France. The results also confirm that temporary alcohol abstinence campaigns primarily attract high-risk drinkers and individuals reporting harmful consequences related to alcohol

Environmental health · Geography · Population · Demography · Medicine · Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue · Smoking Behavior and Cessation · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes