AN EXTRA BENEFIT OF YOUR SOBRIETY IS THE ENERGY TO COMPLETE A PAINT PROJECT
By Inspirations Paint on
Paint projects take motivation to start but energy to finish. A known benefit of giving up alcohol for a month is an increase in energy levels, so what better way to channel that than into a paint project!
Make the most of your feel-good, hangover-free weekends this Dry July with a little DIY! Our fantastic campaign partner, Inspirations Paint, is giving Dry July 2025 participants a $30 voucher when you sign up for their Paint Club — redeemable in-store only.
They've also put together five projects you could start and finish this DIY Dry July.
1. How to Fix a Bad Paint Job
A bad paint job comes in many forms; uneven paint colour, drips, bubbles, poor sheen uniformity – you get the picture. One we often see is peeling or flaking paint. There...
What Happens To Your Body When You Give Up Alcohol For One Month
By Chloe Mcleod on
We all love to indulge in alcohol every now and then, but a night out with friends brings social pressures in regards to frequent drinking. It can feel impossible to dodge having a drink when you want to be part of the group vibe - and before you know it, you’re waking up with a dry mouth and a nasty hangover again.
Dry July is a great way to reassess your relationship with alcohol consumption and see the health benefits of taking a month off. If you’re signing up to raise money, you’ll also be helping people with cancer.
Here are a few ways the human body can benefit from abstaining from alcohol for a whole month.
#1 Improvements to mental health
Alcohol may seem like a mood elevator when you’re dancing and having a great time...
Preparing for your Dry July
By Dry July Foundation on
You’re doing something amazing – improving your own health, and helping to change the lives of people affected by cancer. We're with you every step of the way for your Dry July, so don't be daunted by taking some time off the booze!
Plus, remember the funds you raise will improve the comfort and wellbeing of people affected by cancer.
Here are our top tips to help you prepare and stay dry this July:
In preparation:
- In June try to slow down your alcohol intake to half of what you would normally consume.
- Plan your social calendar. Offer to be the Designated Dryver on a night out, or if you have an event that you really want to drink at, ask someone to buy you a Golden Ticket. It will give you a night off the wagon, while also raising...
All The Good Stuff That Happens To Your Body When You Take A Break From Alcohol
By Alana Wulff on
There’s nothing quite like going out with your mates for a big night or two (or three), but there’s also nothing as satisfying as realising you’ve managed to sidestep another time-wasting, hangry hangover.
Making the decision to hit the reset button and take a break from booze isn’t just liberating, it’s a sure-fire way to save your cash and get your mental and physical health back on track. So, with Dry July just around the corner, here are just some of the best reasons to contemplate hitting snooze on the booze.
Your Sleep Improves
Is there anything more annoying than waking up at 3am because those delicious yet devious wines and beers have messed with your sleep patterns? Drinking, especially if you’re indulging on a regular basis, can...
Why are young people drinking less than their parents’ generation did?
By Sarah J MacLean, Amy Pennay, Gabriel Calluzi, John Holmes and Jukka Törrönen on
As we head towards the end of the year, office get-togethers, Christmas lunches and New Year’s parties are upon us. It seems like a prime opportunity for young people to be drinking the night away.
But something unexpected has happened since the start of this century. Young people in Australia, the UK, Nordic countries and North America have, on average, been drinking significantly less alcohol than their parents’ generation did when they were a similar age.
During COVID lockdowns, some surveys indicate this fell even further.
Our research suggests this is unlikely to be due simply to government efforts to cut youth drinking. Wider social, cultural, technological and economic changes seem to be key to these declines.
Researchers...
Navigating drinking culture in the workplace when you're sober
By ABC Everyday / By Flip Prior on
This year, I've had plenty of time to reflect on what influenced my past drinking habits since quitting on January 1 — and colleagues have emerged as a strong theme.
Look, I'm not about to try to blame Bob in accounts for my own after-work boozing, but given how much time most of us spend at work (and how stressful that environment can be) it's not surprising workmates loom large in shaping drinking behaviour.
Hanging out with colleagues in social situations often brings a not-so-subtle pressure to drink — it's ubiquitous, especially in the media industry, and opting out can feel uncomfortably weird.
And like lots of situations in which drinking is involved, habits can be ingrained after many years until they eventually feel normalised...
Having fun and socialising without drinking alcohol
By ABC Everyday / By Patrick Wright on
Jahin Tanvir doesn't drink.
It doesn't stop him from having a good time with his friends, but there comes a certain point in the night where he's forced to explain himself.
At his first university party, the 20-year-old student says he had "like five beer bottles" shoved in his face.
"I went outside because I couldn't handle it," he says.
"[My friend] spoke to me and I was able to open up and tell her that I don't drink. She was empathetic, and told everyone, and it became more welcoming."
There are plenty of reasons why people might not drink alcohol. Jahin is Muslim, and drinking is against his faith.
Other people might choose to avoid alcohol for health reasons, or simply because they don't like the taste or effects.
It's becoming...
Giving up alcohol isn't easy, but after 30 days I'm already reaping the benefits
By ABC Everyday / By Flip Prior on
On the first day of my abstinent year — having quaffed cheap prosecco while partying until midnight in a kind of panic — I woke up with a nasty hangover.
It was the anxiety-inducing kind necessitating a dark room, cold shower, swim at the beach and hot salty chips to restore any semblance of humanity.
A month into my year without alcohol, I feel worlds away from that wretched creature who woke up to 2019 cracking open one bloodshot, puffy eye and cursing her appalling life choices.
The things I love about being booze free include, better sleep, feeling calmer and dropping 4 kilograms without trying too hard.
But as I celebrate this first significant milestone, I won't sugar-coat it and pretend it's been a complete walk in the park....
Why do our friends want us to drink?
By Simon Lenton on
Anyone who has ever tried to give up drinking, or goes somewhere and says they’re not drinking, knows people encourage us to drink and are unhappy when we don’t. Why is this? Is it uniquely Australian? What can we do about it?
The phenomenon of people experiencing pressure to drink in social situations has been identified in many countries around the world, not just in Australia.
Research on negative reactions to non-drinking and non-drinkers has been reported in countries including the USA, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Japan, African countries, and Finland. Within countries, drinking norms also often vary from one social or cultural group to another..
Doing what our mates do
In some groups, heavy drinking might be normal. In these...