Things To Consider Before Drinking After Dry January

As Dry January comes to a close, some of us may choose to continue our alcohol-free journey while others might be eager to return to their regular drinking habits after a month of cleansing. Both choices are completely valid, but there are a few important things to keep in mind before diving back into regular alcohol consumption after a period of sobriety.

African American woman talking on the phone and drinking wine at the restaurant, answering call

Source: Mariia Vitkovska / Getty

1. Your tolerance level will go down.

In a SELF article published Jan. 28, Henry Kranzler, director of the Center for Studies of Addiction at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, explained that jumping straight back into drinking after a month of Dry January can lower your alcohol tolerance. As a result, alcohol may hit you harder, causing you to get drunk faster and potentially leading to more intense hangovers.

This idea is echoed by Genesis Recovery, which notes that after a break from drinking, the body no longer tolerates alcohol the way it once did. When alcohol floods the system, its effects are amplified, making it easier to become intoxicated more quickly. If someone resumes drinking at their old pace, they risk blacking out or encountering other serious dangers.