Three cheers for a drink-free January Can going on the wagon for a month have any health benefits? That's the question perplexing those contemplating the prospect of Dry January, a new campaign launched by Alcohol Concern in The Daily Telegraph last month to persuade regular drinkers - particularly daily tipplers among the middle-aged and middle-class - to give up alcohol temporarily from January 1. And the answer is yes: hiding the corkscrew until February will help you sleep better, look younger and feel sharper. You may also develop better long-term drinking habits, thereby reducing the risk of serious health problems such as liver disease, cancer and diabetes. Gabriella Jozwiak, a 29-year-old journalist from London, and her boyfriend, Jack Leather, 30, will be "dry" from New Year's Day, 2013. The couple have already taken steps to tackle their drinking habits, following the death of Gabriella's cousin Jane at just 33. "Jane had emotional difficulties with life," explains Gabriella, "and drinking to excess became a symptom of those worries, although she drank nothing stronger than wine. In November last year, Jane collapsed and died from a heart attack, brought on by bleeding in her liver. Since returning to London in May, Gabriella has stuck to her new level of drinking - fewer than 10 units of alcohol a week, compared to around 30 before. The NHS advises women to drink no more than two to three units a day. She now feels ready to face total, if temporary, abstention. Gabriella has already started to feel brighter in the mornings and calmer generally. She has also lost half a stone without trying and her skin is clearer, too. Prof Nick Lowe, a consultant dermatologist, says that alcohol accelerates the ageing of the skin: "It is a relatively unrefined sugar so it can cause damage to the way cells function, affecting proteins and enzymes," he says. So less collagen is produced and skin becomes saggy. It also causes blood vessels to expand, resulting in thread veins."" Conversely, the benefits for the skin of giving up can be seen within a matter of weeks, he says. Joanne Crovini, a Cardiff-based nutritionist, says blood glucose levels are boosted by alcohol, so people who stop drinking might crave a sugary replacement. "Eat plenty of protein in small meals throughout the day to keep blood sugar levels steady,"" she says. Tiredness or headaches due to sugar withdrawal might occur, but these should disappear after a couple of days. As a bonus, though, you should lose a few pounds within three or four weeks. Gabriella says she is looking forward to Dry January. I know people can get uncomfortable if you are not indulging when they are, so we have prepared our lines. Jack will say he's trying to get fit for football. I'll say I've an early start for a big piece of work. Luckily, we have supportive friends. dryjanuary.org.uk; facebook.com/dryJanuary; #dryJanuary