Dry January & Temperance. A matter of choice
I don’t do Dry January but fully respect those that do. There are now excellent low and no alcohol beers which mean socialising can take place while remaining entirely sober.
I have rather less time on that basis for those who argue that because they are doing Dry January everyone else must too. The Guardian carries regular articles along these lines which is to an extent fair enough. Its roots are in support for the Liberal Party which was strongly associated with temperance. Naturally this doesn’t go quite as far as turning down alcohol advertising
There is no direct temperance campaign in the UK at the moment. The Institute for Alcohol Studies is a descendant but not a campaigning organisation. Historically temperance campaigners saw those that drank as morally defective, weak individuals that were likely to end up being criminals.
In 2024 this has been replaced by claims that drinking is bad for the health. Indeed drinking too much IS bad for health and alcoholism is a real issue that can lead to serious ill health and hospitalisation.
A recent Canadian study claims that any drinking is bad for the health. Its difficult to avoid the thought that this sounds like the temperance message that any drinking is bad. There are plenty of other studies that show that moderate drinking can be good for health.
Of course many people don’t drink for reasons other than health. However in Britain a lot of socialising and community gatherings are pub based. That may not always be ideal but it’s much easier not to drink alcohol in a pub now without signing up for the idea that no one should.
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