Whanganui DHB health promoters Chester Penaflor (centre) and Sam Beatson-Shaw (right) and Alcohol & Other Drugs Clinician Shane Brown (left)

30 June 2021

Dry July should be a little easier this year with the help of a few of the lads from Whanganui District Health Board.

They’ve put together a video series featuring their inspiration for going dry, tips for the month and some of the benefits they find from taking a month off alcohol.

The videos, featuring Whanganui DHB health promoters Chester Penaflor and Sam Beatson-Shaw and Alcohol & Other Drugs Clinician Shane Brown will be shared on social media throughout the month of July.

Chester says this is his fifth year doing Dry July and he’s using it as an opportunity to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the importance of alcohol-free pregnancies.

His tips for the month include letting friends and family know he’s doing Dry July, having routines to deal with boredom and planning ahead if attending events where alcohol is being consumed.

“In case there’s gatherings such as friends’ birthdays, have a plan for how you’ll stay alcohol free and still have a good time.”

Chester says he finds huge personal benefit from doing Dry July.

“In my case, the benefits are probably more mental and spiritual rather than physical.

“After the month of July, I feel confident that I still have the coping strategies to stay off alcohol.

“It also gives me a sense of self-efficacy, meaning change is possible. It gravitates towards my actions in the community and with individuals alike.”

Since Dry July launched in Aotearoa in 2012, the campaign has inspired 37,000 Kiwis to go dry, raising $5.1 million for people affected by cancer, and funding more than 170 projects for 15 beneficiary organisations across the country.

This year funds raised by participants of Dry July will help Look Good Feel Better NZ, Bowel Cancer NZ, PINC & STEEL NZ and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand improve the comfort, care and wellbeing of people affected by cancer.

That’s something not to drink to!

For more information, the Is Your Drinking Okay quiz can help you find out about your level of drinking risk. Just fill in the questionnaire, add up your score and find out what it means: https://www.alcohol.org.nz/quiz