I have been doing “dry January” for 15 years and can absolutely attest to the long-term benefits.

But the long-term benefits aren’t physical. They are psychological.

Dry January instills mental discipline and control about alcohol consumption. So anyone who regularly drinks at a moderate or heavy level will learn better drinking habits.

For heavy drinkers, it has the benefit of helping them learn how to cut back. If they can’t go a month without alcohol, they need to go to AA.