You don’t have to give up drinking this July... Well, kind of

Dry July is almost upon us. While there’s never been a better time to give up alcohol, just remember you don’t have to give up drinking. Mocktail, anyone?

Dry July patron and popular chef Fast Ed serves up a few mocktails with ease. (Pic: Supplied)

Sometimes it can be easy to forget what Dry July really means. There tends to be a focus on the “Dry” aspect, the “I’m going to give up alcohol, oh no, there goes my social life” part.

It says a lot about us that giving up our wines and beers and cocktails for only a month is a big deal. But that’s a column for another day.

Dry July isn’t really about alcohol; sure, alcohol is what you sacrifice, but it’s the “why” that’s important. Because Dry July is about cancer. It’s about the one in two Australian men and one in three Australian women who will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. It’s about the people who love them.

So basically, it’s about all of us. We have all been, or we all will be, touched by cancer in some way.

The silver lining is that there are some amazing organisations and charities which help raise funds for cancer research, cancer sufferers, and their families and carers. Among them are the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia, Leukaemia Foundation and CanTeen.

We have all been, or we all will be, touched by cancer in some way. (Pic: Thinkstock)

Dry July is one campaign among many, but what makes it unique is the way funds are used. With all the big issues surrounding a cancer diagnosis, it’s the small things which start to build up. Things like transport to and from appointments, accommodation near hospitals, access to wig libraries, comfortable chairs to sit in, wi-fi access (to watch Netflix of course) and even those pesky mobile phone chargers.

These are the little things that can cause irritation and stress for cancer sufferers, and these are the things Dry July helps with.

While there’s never been a better time to give up alcohol than next month, just remember you don’t have to give up drinking, well, kind of. Mocktails are easy to make, and you won’t suffer from any sort of hangover afterwards. And they’re a lot cheaper than their alcoholic counterparts.

Mocktails won’t give you a hangover, no matter how much you mix your drink. (Pic: Supplied)

Dry July patron and popular chef Fast Ed tells RendezView: “An important learning is the ability to distinguish between having a good time and having a drink. That’s maybe one of the most important things you can get out of it.

“You can say, ‘I can go out and have fun with my mates and I don’t have to drink’ and it actually allows you to appreciate the relationship you have with your friends in an utterly different way.”

Stay dry out there, folks.

For more information on Dry July, and to sign up, go to dryjuly.com