Dry January? What's that gonna do for you? episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 4, 2026 · 24 MIN

Dry January? What's that gonna do for you?

from The Current

Many of us participate in Dry January — and go right back to drinking during the other eleven months of the year. Sure, Dry January can be a great jumping off point, but long-term health benefits aren't going to come with quitting the booze for one month. We speak to Catharine Fairbairn, a psychologist who runs an alcohol research lab, about what people should be doing if they really want to change their drinking habits. And we ask Dan Malleck, a medical historian specializing in alcohol and prohibition: Why do people drink, anyways? And is it really that bad for you?

Many of us participate in Dry January — and go right back to drinking during the other eleven months of the year. Sure, Dry January can be a great jumping off point, but long-term health benefits aren't going to come with quitting the booze for one month. We speak to Catharine Fairbairn, a psychologist who runs an alcohol research lab, about what people should be doing if they really want to change their drinking habits. And we ask Dan Malleck, a medical historian specializing in alcohol and prohibition: Why do people drink, anyways? And is it really that bad for you?

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Dry January? What's that gonna do for you?

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How long is this episode of The Current?

This episode is 24 minutes long.

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This episode was published on February 4, 2026.

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Many of us participate in Dry January — and go right back to drinking during the other eleven months of the year. Sure, Dry January can be a great jumping off point, but long-term health benefits aren't going to come with quitting the booze for one...

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