Dry January? What are the benefits.
A Refreshing Look at Alcohol and Your Hearing This New Year
As we begin a new year, many of us naturally start thinking about small changes we can make to feel healthier, happier and more balanced. For some, Dry January offers the perfect opportunity to reset after the festive season — a gentle pause to reflect on habits and give our bodies a little time to recover. While most people associate reducing alcohol with benefits such as improved sleep or clearer thinking, there’s another aspect of wellbeing that often goes unnoticed: our hearing.
Alcohol affects the body in many subtle ways, and the ears are no exception. These effects are usually temporary and nothing to be concerned about, but understanding them can help us take a more rounded approach to our health. One well-known short-term effect among audiologists is something nicknamed “cocktail deafness”. After enjoying a drink or two, you may find conversations harder to follow in busy environments or notice a slight muffled sensation. This happens because alcohol briefly influences how the ears and brain process sound. It is a normal response and usually disappears once the alcohol has left your system.
Festive celebrations also make it easy to overlook how loud your surroundings really are. Alcohol can slightly reduce your sensitivity to noise, meaning the room might have been much louder than it seemed at the time. This doesn’t usually cause lasting harm, but it’s a helpful reminder to give your ears a break when you can — especially during party season.
Alcohol can also influence the vestibular system, the part of the inner ear responsible for balance. This is why walking home after a celebration sometimes feels a little unsteady or why turning your head quickly may feel different. Because alcohol temporarily changes the thickness of the blood, it can also affect circulation to the ear, adding to that familiar “off balance” feeling many of us recognise.
Long-term hearing issues are most associated with many years of heavy drinking, but for the majority of people who consume alcohol in moderation, these effects remain short-lived. The key message is not to cause alarm but to raise awareness: just as alcohol can influence our coordination or sleep, it can also play a small role in how clearly we hear.
At The Studio, we view hearing as a whole-body experience. It’s not only about detecting sounds but also about listening, understanding and staying connected to the people and world around us. Being mindful of how everyday habits interact with our hearing helps us make informed, balanced choices.
So, if you’re raising a glass this year, enjoy it — with moderation and awareness. And whenever you need advice, reassurance, or a hearing check, we’re always here to help support your hearing health.