NEWS · B1 Level - Part 1

What Is Dry January

The US Surgeon General issued a major new advisory today warning that drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting cancer.

Level: B1 · 24 sentences

Transcript

  1. The US Surgeon General issued a major new advisory today warning that drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting cancer.
  2. He is recommending that alcoholic beverages carry a warning label, just like cigarettes.
  3. The news comes as Dry January, the challenge of giving up drinking for the first month of the year, is growing in popularity.
  4. In 2024, nearly half a million adults participated in Dry January.
  5. That number is up a whopping 60% in the last two years.
  6. The health benefits of cutting back on alcohol are astounding.
  7. Even after just one month, people can lose up to 5 to 10 lbs.
  8. If you cut out alcohol for a month, you're going to notice improvements in your mood, in your sleep quality, in your energy level.
  9. You're also probably going to notice better skin.
  10. During Dry January, people sip on mocktails (cocktails without any alcohol content).
  11. There are great non-alcoholic wines, beers, and spirits that are on the market today.
  12. Hilary Sheinbaum is the author of "Going Dry: A Practical Guide to Drinking Less and Living More".
  13. We met up with Hillary at Albert's Bar in New York City.
  14. "People are more wellness-focused than ever before."
  15. "Gen Z is hardly drinking, and people just want to feel good."
  16. What are your best tips for Dry January?
  17. "I always say, number one, recruit a friend because there's strength in numbers."
  18. "And I also would say that be kind to yourself."
  19. "Giving up alcohol can be really difficult."
  20. "And if you have, like, one drink, it's okay."
  21. "Call it a 'one drink January' and start again."
  22. One dry month can also lead to another.
  23. People who partake in Dry January actually drink less in the months that follow.
  24. Cheers! Happy Dry January!