A lot of promises were made but Oxford drinkers had mixed results as they took a challenge to go without alcohol for the start of 2015, Jaine Blackman reports

Wedding planner Georgina Webb is looking forward to chilled glass of bubbly at Oxford's Malmaison tomorrow to celebrate a friend's birthday.

And while that would be a treat at any time, it will be all the more appreciated by Georgina, as it marks the end of Dry January for her.

The campaign by charity Alcohol Concern, challenged people to give up booze for the first 31 days of the year.

"I have actually found it really easy. I think after the over indulgence of Christmas it has been a welcome change," says Georgina, 37, of Ruby Wedding Design (ruby-weddings.co.uk), based in Didcot.

But not everyone feels the same.

More than half of drinkers in Oxford who vowed to have a dry January fell off the wagon early, research into the region’s drinking habits reveals.

One in six adults (17 per cent) from the Oxford area had planned to remain alcohol-free throughout January, according to the national survey commissioned by the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service.

The start to the year was not as dry as expected though, with 52 per cent of those pledging not to drink any alcohol during January, admitting they had given in by the halfway point.

Good support from family and friends helped Georgina with her resolve.

"I am a social drinker so mid-week drinking was not an issue for me but when I was out with my friends it was harder and required more discipline.

"One of my friends has been doing it too and we both recently went to a girls' night in at another friend's house where there was a lot of drinking going on.

"We both chose to drive which stopped any temptations and we drank virgin mojitos all night which were delicious and we didn't feel like we were missing out.

"Plus neither of us had a hangover the next day," she says.

The survey 2,050 British adults also found that nationally:

* The under 25s were the least successful at their dry January challenge, with a 64 per cent failure rate.

* Alcohol is causing problems for more than one in six drinkers (18 per cent), with issues including relationship conflict, health problems and difficulties at work.

* One in four drinkers (26 per cent) have alcohol most days, with half of them regularly exceeding recommended healthy limits

* One in seven drinkers (14 per cent) say they only drink excessively on social occasions

* One in nine drinkers (12 per cent) have at least half a bottle of wine, three pints of beer, or three large measures of spirits most evenings

* One in 25 drinkers (four per cent) usually have a bottle of wine a night

Dr Nitin Shori, medical director of the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service and a working NHS GP, said: “It’s a month when the nation talks more openly about their drinking habits, thanks to the dry January trend.

"While most don't need or want to cut out alcohol in the long-term, it gets people thinking about how much they usually drink and whether they'd benefit from cutting down. "It also proves how easy it is to give in to temptation.

"An unhealthy relationship with alcohol and regularly drinking too much can affect health and wellbeing, as well as impacting wider aspects of life too.

"We're seeing increasing numbers of patients seeking help from our online doctor service to reduce their alcohol intake.

"Many find themselves in a pattern of excess drinking that's difficult to break. Recognising there's a problem can be one of the biggest challenges though and some only make a change after loved ones raise the issue."

Back to social drinker Georgina, she says: "I have felt quite virtuous not drinking but I don't think that long term my drinking habits will change apart from doing Dry January again next year."

She took part in the challenge after putting on a few pounds over Christmas.

"I'd read a few articles about the health and weight loss benefits of cutting out alcohol so I thought I'd give it a go," she says.

"I have lost my Christmas weight and have been sleeping much better. I think it is a great detox after Christmas and I would definitely do it again."

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