Massey Students Smash Dry July
It may be the middle of winter, but for many people living in New Zealand, July was the driest month of the year.
Dry July is a fundraiser that challenges people to go alcohol-free for the entire month of July to raise money for New Zealanders battling cancer. All money raised by the Dry July campaign will go to a number of charities including Look Good Feel Better NZ, PINC & STEEL NZ and Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand. Over 7,528 people took part in the campaign, and over $1,236,410 has been raised.
“I did find it quite challenging for the first week or so. Drinking has become a large part of my weekends so for a while I found it quite hard not being able to join in. I quickly got over that though, and ended up getting way more enjoyment and happiness out of not drinking than I ever thought I would,” says Massey student Daniel Boswell.
“My weekends became far more productive, whereas before they would be dedicated almost entirely to drinking and being hungover. I’ve started gyming and exercising more, and spending more time on my assignments which has been a blessing. I also feel far better in myself, knowing that I don’t have to follow what everybody else is doing.”
Some of the benefits of going alcohol-free include having more energy, better sleep, less brain-fog, healthier skin, weight loss, and a huge sense of achievement.
Gastroenterologist Dr Niket Sonpal says, “If you quit drinking for even just a month, the first thing that will happen is your gut is going to say a big thank you. Your body starts to reset because you’re not getting as many empty calories, and your energy levels go through the roof.”
“I have a lot of medical students, and the day after their exams they always tell me that their stomach hurts. The reason why is likely because of alcohol which directly hurts your stomach and your gastrointestinal lining. Once you stop drinking, the internal lining starts to heal.”
Although drinking is a large part of student culture, it is always important to understand the risks associated with it. One in every five New Zealanders have a hazardous drinking pattern, which equates to roughly 824,000 people aged 15 or above.
Since Dry July launched in 2012, the campaign has motivated over 54,000 Kiwis to give up drinking, even just for a month. In total, Dry July has raised almost $8,000,000 for those living with cancer, and has funded over 170 projects for 15 beneficiary organisations across the country.
Donations will remain open for the month of August to encourage those persevering with their sobriety, and you can sign up at any time to take part in next year’s Dry July.