Professor Field points out that while the existing research into longer term effects on drinking patterns following Dry January seem promising, more robust studies are needed in order to determine whether it’s the best approach for people trying to cut down their alcohol intake. “The only way to find that out is to take a group of heavy drinkers who want to cut down, and randomise them to either abstain for a month, or try to cut down using a different approach, for example only drinking alcohol at weekends, or limiting consumption to a few drinks on each occasion.”