July proves a real dry argument

From a stress-relieving glass of wine on a Friday, to a scotch on the rocks with friends, Port Kennedy couple Liz Eastwood and Marcus Taylor sacrificed their vices for this year’s Dry July campaign.

It was less difficult than they had expected to lay off the drink, Mr Taylor said, considering the pair tended to drink “more on the frequent side”, and quickly turned into a positive experience that left both feeling healthier.

“Not drinking does present a challenge because it means you have to come up with ideas of other things to do,” Mr Taylor said. “We’ve been going to the cinema a lot more than we would, going to the beach and taking walks — I wouldn’t say it has been more enjoyable not drinking, but it hasn’t been less enjoyable.

“It made a major difference to how we felt — it was great to wake up feeling on top of the world on Saturdays.”

Miss Eastwood said she initially worried she would be unable to unwind after a long week at work without her Friday glass of wine.

“I think we’ve always been big weekend drinkers — we’d drink wine and beer and Marcus also enjoys a vodka and the odd whiskey,” she said.

“It was fairly difficult throughout July in social situations — perhaps when friends were drinking — but it was okay by about halfway through the night, once we’d come to terms with it.”

The couple agreed they quickly began to see the benefits of avoiding alcohol and hoped they would become more conscious of the amount of alcohol they drink, as a result.

“We don’t want to become teetotallers, but want to cut down and not drink just for the sake of it,” Miss Eastwood said.