A month without alcohol delivers clear health gains for moderate drinkers, according to research by Radboudumc and the Dutch science TV show De Kennis van Nu. In the study, 14 moderate drinkers completed a "dry month," while 9 lifelong abstainers served as a control group to rule out chance effects.
Post-abstinence, participants reported feeling fitter, with lower cholesterol levels, reduced belly fat, and improved liver health markers. Specifically, cholesterol dropped, belly fat decreased, and blood indicators of liver stress and cell damage fell. Liver stiffness and fat levels matched the control group. However, these benefits vanished once drinking resumed. The control group showed stable measurements overall, including slightly lower average blood pressure and cholesterol than the test group.
Researchers also examined psychological impacts via a reaction test assessing alertness and impulsivity. Alcohol drinkers reacted faster but made more errors, indicating impulsivity. After the dry month, their reaction speed slowed slightly, but accuracy improved. It's unclear if abstinence alone caused this change.
The 14 participants averaged 10.5 alcoholic drinks per week before abstaining—mostly below the 14-drink weekly limit. They were compared to the 9 non-drinkers in the control group. The show's two presenters joined the experiment, forgoing alcohol for a month.
