Health Minister Yannick Neuder announced on December 27, 2024 that he would do, “like every year”, Dry January. A sobriety operation for which addictologists have deplored the lack of government support in recent years.
“I'm going to do it, like every year,” assures Yannick Neuder to BFMTV. The Minister of Health in the Bayrou government has committed to making “Dry January”, or “Alcohol-Free Month”.
The aim of this annual operation is to encourage people to think about their alcohol consumption, which kills three million people worldwide each year, recalls the WHO.
Personal Challenge
The minister – a cardiologist by profession – assures that he is a fan of the January challenge. He explains to our colleagues that he participates in it “in a personal capacity” and that he takes part “every year”.
Last year, in Le Parisien, 48 addiction specialists asked the State to support the alcohol-free month. They said their action “clearly altered” by the cancellation of prevention campaigns in 2023. Yannick Neuder's predecessors had found themselves at the heart of controversies and were accused of being influenced by the alcohol lobbies.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Starting with Gardois Aurélien Rousseau: “Personally, I am always very suspicious or cautious when people say: the government is launching a campaign to find out how to live for a month”, he declared on BFMTV.
Before to add: “If I take my example – I am very sedentary, a little stressed at times – I will try to take advantage of this collective movement to not consume alcohol.”
He also stated: “I have never personally come across an alcohol lobby. The Ministry of Health has been involved in anti-alcohol campaigns for decades.”
Do the best
It is difficult to emphasize the dangers of alcohol without scaring or making people feel guilty. However, Montpellier addictologist Laure Grellet Preney reminded us during the last campaign: “Addiction is not the only face of alcohol in France. The problem is to focus on addiction. Sometimes, we need to reduce our consumption without being addicted. A large part of the population consumes too much.”
The January challenge is to reflect on our consumption: “We must look at the quantity we drink and how often. 'Dry January' is an opportunity to ask ourselves questions, to understand our relationship with alcohol. How many glasses do we have? ? For what reasons do we drinks ?”
The addictologist insists on this notion: “The sooner we ask ourselves questions, the better. But it's never too late to get help, to slow down, to stop.”