If you've overdone it this Christmas, you might feel like joining the thousands across the UK who've decided to give up the booze - at least for a month anyway.

This year, the NHS South East Commissioning Support Group is setting a challenge to give up alcohol for 31 days, a move that's become known as Dry January.

NHS spokesman Sophie Lyon said: “It’s your chance to lose weight, feel better, save money and make a difference.”

To set an example, two local doctors from the commissioning group’s governing body have signed up.

“There are significant health risks associated with excess alcohol consumption. We should all drink less” - Dr Tony Jones

Dr Tony Jones of The Vine Medical Centre in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, and Dr David Chesover of the Thornhills Medical Practice in Martin Square, Larkfield, have both pledged to go dry for January.

Dr Jones said: “There are significant health risks associated with excess alcohol consumption. We should all drink less.”

The rate of death due to alcoholic liver disease is rising at around 5% per annum, i.e. doubling every 20 years.

Every other cause of death whether it be cancer, vascular disease or respiratory diseases has been on a steady decline year on year, alcohol-related death is the only one on the increase.

Dr Jones said: “The worrying thing is that many people now have hazardous drinking patterns and cheaper alcohol with increasing patterns of binge drinking make hazardous drinking an increasingly common problem.

“You will appreciate that death due to alcoholic liver disease is not the only health problem related to hazardous drinking that is on the rise.

“Elderly care psychiatrists are seeing increasing numbers of alcohol related dementias and there are increasing numbers of patients in our hospital beds with alcoholic liver failure.”

Taking the doctor’s advice will be KM journalist Alan Smith, who said: “I’m sure I will find it easy to give up drinking.

“After all, I’ve given it up hundreds of times before.”

To sign up to the pledge, visit www.dryjanuary.org.uk

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