Sober October is well and truly upon us – and if you’ve committed to a month sans booze, bravo.

We aren’t here to tell you what to do, and if Sober October is your idea of utter hell then we raise a glass to you. But if you are partaking in the 31-day alcohol-free challenge and starting to crave a glass of vino already (just me then?), we’re here to motivate you to keep going by debunking exactly what happens to your body when you quit booze for a month.

So, you’re trying a month without alcohol – but what’s in it for you? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot.

According to Alcohol Change UK, who spearheaded the very similar Dry January challenge, giving up alcohol this month will help you sleep better and have more energy, improve your mental health and concentration, give you brighter skin, help you save money and feel an amazing sense of achievement.

Want more proof? We called on Dr Usman Quershi, GP and founder of Luxe Skin by Dr Q and Dr Claire Merrifield, a GP at Selph, to break down exactly what a month of giving up alcohol will really do to your body.

Long-term health implications of drinking can include skin conditions, heart disease, liver disease, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system and digestive issues – and certain cancers are even more likely in those who drink too much too often. Alcohol is a depressant and can increase the symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders. Tiredness, brain fog and memory loss can be caused by regular alcohol consumption, too.

If you ditch drinking for a month, it will significantly improve your overall health and well-being. You will be able to sleep better and feel less fatigued and sluggish. Concentration and memory levels will increase as a result of better sleep, and it’s likely your mood and mental health will improve too. Skin will feel more hydrated and healthy, and any dryness, puffiness or redness should improve.

Your blood pressure will decrease, and your liver function will improve. However, these results won’t necessarily last long if we go back to regularly drinking heavily.

How does alcohol affect sleep?

Drinking can often make it easier to fall asleep. However, in reality, alcohol decreases quality of sleep. It affects the central nervous system, interrupting the sleep cycle, meaning we don’t reach the levels of deep sleep needed to feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Ditching alcohol will mean you will have a night of more restorative sleep.

“Although it may feel like you get to sleep easier after a night of drinking, that sleep is usually broken by dehydration, trips to the bathroom and less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep than normal,” Merrifield explains. “REM sleep is particularly important in helping us store memories and process emotions.” In other words, it’s important!

Sober October will likely improve your sleep quality, by increasing the amount of time you spent in REM. In turn, this can help you feel better rested and more alert during the day. “You should also feel like your memory has improved and you feel less emotional,” she notes. “If you’re used to drinking a lot, don’t be surprised if you feel like it takes you a little longer to get to sleep though, this will improve as you get used to not having the sedative effects of alcohol in the evening.”

How does alcohol affect your liver?

This all depends on how much you typically drink. “People who are moderate to heavy drinkers are likely to experience slight improvements in the way their livers work after a month of not drinking, although they are unlikely to feel any direct benefits of this,” says Merrifield. “The main thing you’ll notice, if you’re used to drinking heavily, is an increased quality of sleep, which is likely to help you feel more energised, motivated and focussed.”