Dry January and Gout: What a Month Without Alcohol Changes

Short answer: a month without alcohol is a good idea with gout. Alcohol raises uric acid and increases the risk of a flare in the 24 hours after drinking, whatever the drink. Dry January removes that trigger for a month. But no study has measured its effect on uric acid: a month off alcohol does not cure gout or replace urate-lowering treatment. The real gain comes in February, depending on how you start drinking again.

What alcohol does to gout

• It raises uric acid. In a study by Faller and Fox (New England Journal of Medicine, 1982) in 6 patients with gout, 8 days of high-dose alcohol (1.8 g per kg of body weight a day) raised blood uric acid from 8.4 to 10.1 mg/dL on average, through increased uric acid production.
• It triggers flares. In a study by Neogi et al. (American Journal of Medicine, 2014) of 724 people who already had gout, the risk of a self-reported flare was 1.36 times higher after more than 1 to 2 drinks in the previous 24 hours, and 1.51 times higher after more than 2 to 4. Wine, beer and liquor were each linked to more flares.
• It is linked to developing gout. In a study by Choi et al. (The Lancet, 2004) in men, each daily beer was linked to a 49% higher risk of gout.

The American College of Rheumatology guideline (2020) conditionally recommends limiting alcohol with gout.

What a month without alcohol can bring

During the month, you remove a known flare trigger. Beyond gout, observational studies of Dry January volunteers link it to better well-being and control over drinking:

• In a study by de Visser and Nicholls (Psychology & Health, 2020) of 4,232 participants, Dry January was linked to higher well-being and confidence in handling alcohol, especially among those who completed the month.
• In a study by de Visser and Piper (Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2020) comparing 1,192 participants with 1,549 drinkers who did not try it, the benefits in self-rated health, well-being, control and drinking seen in those who completed the month were not seen in the others, including at the August follow-up.

What not to expect

• No cure: gout is a chronic disease. If your uric acid is above target, you still need urate-lowering treatment.
• No guarantee of zero flares: other factors matter (diet, weight, medication, dehydration).
• No swapping: replacing beer with soda does not help. In a study by Choi and Curhan (BMJ, 2008) in men, two or more sugary soft drinks a day were linked to an 85% higher risk of gout.

What to drink instead

• Water, sparkling water, with lemon or mint.
• Coffee and tea, unsweetened: see does coffee protect against gout?
• Non-alcoholic beer, in moderation: it still has purines, see non-alcoholic beer and gout.
• Mocktails: watch the sugar and juice.

And in February?

Since flare risk is tied to how much you drink in 24 hours, the restart matters: do not "make up" for the month with one big night. If you start again, keep to small amounts, with food and water on the side, and keep alcohol-free days in your week. To choose drinks, read alcohol and gout: which drinks are safest.

With the Ça Goutte! app, log your drinks and your flares: you will see whether the month without alcohol changes anything for you, and can discuss it with your doctor using your own data.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dry January good for gout?

Yes: alcohol raises uric acid and increases the risk of a flare within 24 hours, whatever the drink. A month without alcohol removes that trigger, without replacing urate-lowering treatment.

Does a month without alcohol lower uric acid?

No study has measured the effect of Dry January on uric acid. We do know alcohol raises it: in a small study, 8 days of high-dose alcohol raised it from 8.4 to 10.1 mg/dL in patients with gout.

Can I drink non-alcoholic beer during Dry January?

Yes, in moderation: it has little or no alcohol but still contains purines from malt.

How should I go back to drinking after Dry January with gout?

Gradually and in small amounts: flare risk rises with how much you drink in 24 hours. Do not make up for the month in one night, and keep alcohol-free days. This article does not replace medical advice.