Dry January started with 1 person years ago – now its a phenom

The start of January often feels like an opportunity for a clean slate, and for many people that means cutting out alcohol for the month, a challenge widely known as Dry January.

What started as a personal experiment for one person in the U.K. has now grown into a global phenomenon. And it’s one that researchers say can offer real health benefits. For others, it’s the turning point to life-altering change that lasts beyond 31 days.

For Amanda Kuda, that change began nine years ago. She had gone out on December 30, and woke up the next day with a ferocious hangover.