Dry January: 'Persevere, if you break, try again'

Andrew Corry said sobriety was "massively worth it"

A man who has been sober for more than two years is encouraging people attempting Dry January to persevere.

Andrew Corry, 45, from Bishop Auckland, had drunk alcohol since he was 17 years old, sometimes to the point of causing blackouts, exacerbating his mental health issues.

He said sobriety was "one of the best decisions" for his inner self, and had left him calmer and more in control.

"My message to anyone attempting Dry January this year, persevere, even if you break your resolution towards it, try again," he said.

Mr Corry recalls using alcohol to "fill a void" around loneliness, and said it was part of the dynamic working in construction to cope with stress.

He entered into sobriety in July 2022.

"At that point I had enough of abusing my body," he said.

'Black behind the eyes'

The night before, he had blacked out - not for the first time.

"But instead of blacking out and not knowing how I got home, I stayed out and was fully functioning, yet I was black behind my eyes," Mr Corry said.

He had previously attempted suicide and was dealing with depression and anxiety.

Mr Corry added that sobriety, whether for one month or forever, was "massively worth it".

North-east England continues to have the highest number of alcohol-related deaths anywhere in England, latest figures show.

Mr Corry said sober communities were "vital".

He attends events with the Sober Butterfly Collective in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which encourage socialising without drinking.

"Honestly I've not looked back," Mr Corry said.

"It was difficult to adapt, I made a lifestyle choice to stop and with that it improved my own mental health immeasurably."

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