Dry July – a win for business, workers and people affected by cancer
Here are some sobering statistics. One in five adult Queenslanders are drinking alcohol at risky levels, three-quarters of these people are male, and the construction industry has higher rates of risky alcohol consumption compared with the national average.
Harmful alcohol use can have an impact on the health, safety and wellbeing of workers, as well as the workplace. What can workplaces do to create a healthy and safe workplace? Options include interventions such as a drug and alcohol policy, an alcohol ban in the workplace, and alcohol-free workplace functions. Workplaces can also provide access to free counselling and support agencies.
Dry July, now in its 12th year, asks people to give up drinking for the month of July. At its heart, Dry July is a fundraising campaign for cancer support services, with funds raised providing comfort and support for cancer patients, their families and carers.
Be it a comfier chair, a brighter waiting room, a lift to an appointment or a complimentary massage, Dry July Foundation funds projects and programs that make the cancer journey a little easier for some of the 430,000 people estimated to be living with cancer in Australia.
The health and wellbeing benefits of having a month off drinking alcohol can include reduced risk of cancer, sleeping better, weight loss and a clearer mind. Participation in Dry July also has helped many organisations provide a more supportive work environment.
With the growing adoption of Dry July as an annual health and wellbeing initiative by businesses of all sizes across the country, the upside of a sustained effort of 31 days off drinking alcohol gives back in more ways than expected.
Further information
Find out how to get your workplace involved in Dry July, by visiting www.dryjuly.com.