Top tips for supporting the Dry January® challenge at work

Use internal communications at your workplace to promote taking part, talk about the benefits and let people know how to sign up. We can help get the messaging right with some great promotional material. You can send out information via staff channels and chats as well as spreading the news via word of mouth.

Of course you all are, but is there anyone in your workplace who might like to take up the gauntlet of being a Workplace Dry January^® Champion for the month? It really helps to have an ambassador who can rally the troops, inspire staff to get involved, organise activities and keep up the momentum on those tricky days throughout the month.

Team meetings are a great time to tell people about the challenge. Engage teams and incentivise taking part – including on Teams or Zoom. Put in place a fun and engaging support package. Why not have a Dry January^® challenge kick-off event and encourage people to ask questions, share ideas and plan activities for the month?

Let people know that they can take part in the Dry January^® challenge using the tools and resources provided by Alcohol Change UK, including the free Try Dry^® app and daily coaching emails.

Research shows that people who take part in the Dry January^® challenge by signing up via the free Try Dry® app or online double their chance of having a totally alcohol-free month, gain significantly more of the amazing benefits (energy, sleep, skin, savings, mental wellbeing), and are much more likely to be able to take control of their drinking longer-term than those trying to go it alone.

A bit of competition can work wonders, so how about seeing which teams can stay the driest, or raise the most for charity? You could also see who saves the most money as a team by not spending on alcohol this month – team members can use the Try Dry^® app to keep track.

Now that many of us are working from home some of the time you can use the campaign to connect employees in different places under a common cause.

Why not use the Dry January^® challenge as an opportunity to launch or re-launch your workplace’s alcohol strategy? All workplaces should have one. If you don’t, we can help. We also offer a wide range of other training. Get in touch at [email protected].

By fundraising for Alcohol Change UK your workplace will be helping to change and save the lives of those affected by alcohol harm. We can help you with ideas or set up a corporate fundraising page. To get started, please email [email protected].