How does not drinking for a month improve your health? Deakin alumni Alex is about to find out!
Many of us enjoy a drink, and alcohol can absolutely be enjoyed in moderation. But drinking too much can negatively affect your wellbeing in a range of ways, from physical symptoms like skin problems and poor energy to mental health issues like mood swings or even addiction. Not to mention the hole it can leave in your bank balance!
If you’d like to reassess your relationship with alcohol but need a little motivation, meet Alex Crowden, a Deakin alumni who’s taking on the challenge of Dry July. This national campaign encourages you to give up the booze for a month to raise funds for people affected by cancer.
We chatted to Alex at the start of his journey to see what’s motivated him to participate in Dry July and how he expects to feel over the next month.
What did you study at Deakin and where did your qualifications take you?
I’m from Launceston and moved to the big smoke to attend Deakin’s Burwood campus in 2009, studying a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communication) – majoring in Journalism and Public Relations.
I spent the last decade working in social media and writing blogs, including at Deakin as a Social Media Coordinator from 2015–18, a position I thoroughly enjoyed. A month ago, I took a job as Content Manager at Programmed, using the communications, writing and stakeholder management skills I’ve honed over 10 years.
Why did you decide to take part in Dry July?
I’d been thinking about giving up alcohol for a month for a while. When lockdown began, I considered giving it up until ‘COVID was over’. That was sort of naïve as the pandemic won’t end on a single day. Instead, lockdown resulted in me drinking more.
As things opened up, I found myself going out more to catch up with people I hadn’t seen for a long time, and wanted to give my body a rest. Every time I’d considered giving up alcohol for a month in the past, there was always a birthday or an event that made me not do it, as I didn’t want to attend one or more events that month sober, particularly if it involved meeting new people.
July worked out well as I don’t have anything major on and it’s one of the ‘sober months’ like OctSober and FebFast, meaning I can combine giving up the booze with raising funds for a great cause.
What do you think will be the most challenging part?
I think not being able to have just one beer or wine after a stressful day will be harder than not drinking at events. Given I’ve posted on social media about participating and seeking donations, people know I’m not drinking, so there’s public accountability.
It’s at home alone where it’ll be hardest, I think. Other than that, not having an overpriced mid-strength beer at the footy will be tough!
When you catch up with friends, is it easy to say you’re not drinking? Are they supportive?
I haven’t really ever tried to not drink in public settings, apart from when I participated in the Syrian Refugee Ration Challenge. That presented a few tempting moments, but friends and family were mostly supportive. I think this being a month will make it harder.
At least I can eat what I like and snack to my heart’s content. Think of all the extra calories I can allow myself due to the lack of alcohol!
Will you still attend pubs and bars during Dry July?
I haven’t got any plans, apart from going to the footy and my regular Tuesday league bowling (where I usually drink). I would go to a bar or pub to meet up with friends or family if asked, but am less likely to plan something that involves those sorts of places than I would be in a regular month.
My go-to non-alcoholic beverage is a Coke No-Sugar (RIP Coke Zero), but if I did go out with friends I would potentially have a mocktail or even a lemon, lime and bitters. I think that still counts as non-alcoholic given you can buy it at the supermarket!
What were your drinking habits when you were a Deakin student?
I lived at a residential college that was affiliated with Monash but at the time took some Deakin students, so we had organised themed parties every week, then I’d go to gigs and other uni parties as well.
I was pretty responsible in terms of drinking when I had to study or work the next morning. I didn’t really have the money back then to drink a huge amount outside of the weekly uni parties (drinks were only $1).
What do you hope to get out of the experience, other than raising money for a great cause?
I’m keen to test myself and see how hard I find it. Also, I’m interested to see if I notice myself feeling different and if my body benefits from not drinking. I wonder if I’ll change my drinking habits moving forward, I guess I’ll find out. If I lose a little weight I certainly wouldn’t complain either – summer bodies are made in winter after all!
Do you have any long-term goals to change how you interact with alcohol? Has your attitude changed from your 20s to your 30s?
I would say I can’t drink as much at one time (on a night out, for example) as I could in my early and mid-20s. However, I drink more regularly due to having more disposable income, and catching up with friends often involves alcohol.
I wouldn’t say I have a goal per se but I’d like to not feel as though I need to drink to relax around new people, or in a party or bar environment. Learning how to do that through this experiment would be a nice win.
If you’re interested in joining the Dry July challenge, visit the website for all you need to know or to support Alex in his quest. If you’d like to take part but have a special occasion or two coming up this month, you can also have a Dry(ish) July – just choose 21 or 14 days dry.
Support is also available if you’d like to improve your health and wellbeing:
- Make a free and confidential appointment with one of our doctors at a Deakin Medical Centre or chat to a Deakin counsellor.
- Visit our Ask Counselling blog, which contains questions asked by Deakin students and answered by our counsellors. All questions and responses are anonymous.
- Visit the Australian Department of Health or Hello Sunday Morning for helpful information and resources on changing your relationship with alcohol.
- Contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 for free and confidential advice.