Dry July
Dry July is a national campaign that encourages us to give up alcohol for a month to raise funds for people affected by cancer. It’s also a great opportunity to assess how much you drink, why you drink, and how you can make an intentional effort to reduce your alcohol use over the long term for better health and wellbeing.
Alcohol can play a big role in our wider social culture, and while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying an occasional drink in moderation, we all know alcohol isn’t good for our health. Aside from the misery of hangovers, alcohol consumption is linked to more serious and permanent health problems such as depleted energy, mental health issues, interpersonal violence, chronic disease and addiction.
Take part in Dry July and see just how much better you look, feel and function without booze for a month.
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Sign up for Dry July
Go Dry this July to raise funds for people affected by cancer.
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Mocktail recipes
Get inspired by this impressive menu of non-alcoholic drinks!
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The effects of giving up alcohol
What happens when you give up alcohol for one whole month?
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Hello Sunday Morning
Find practical support tools to review your current relationship with alcohol and make meaningful change
5 tips to go dry this July
While a break from booze will look different for each one of us, these strategies can help if you want to stop drinking (even if it's just for a while).
- Create a support network: tell other people about your plans to stop drinking to be accountable to your goal.
- Avoid places where you know you'd normally drink.
- Arm yourself with some one-liners that you use with friends or colleagues, such as 'I'm not drinking tonight because I've got an early start in the morning'.
- Don't keep any alcohol in the fridge at home.
- Don't give up, even if you slip up: any reduction in how much you're drinking is a positive step.
Test your knowledge
How to get the help you need
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Deakin Medical Centre
Accessible and confidential medical services for students, provided by qualified and experienced medical doctors and nurses.
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Counselling
Our experienced psychologists and social workers offer free and confidential counselling support to all students located in Australia.
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DirectLine
DirectLine provides confidential alcohol and drug counselling and referral in Victoria.
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ReachOut
Learn how to enjoy alcohol without getting drunk and causing yourself and others harm.
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Alcohol and Drug Foundation
Read information on drug and alcohol use and how to talk about drug and alcohol harm.
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13YARN
A 24/7 crisis support service that provides a culturally safe space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to yarn about their worries.
You may also be interested in
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Alcohol and other drugs
Alcohol and drugs can dramatically affect your thoughts, behaviour, memory, concentration and judgement.
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Addictions
An addiction that gets out of hand can seriously damage your work and study performance as well as your relationships.
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Balance
Life at university can get busy and it can feel overwhelming; but it can also be very rewarding. It’s important to maintain a healthy balance and feel in control.
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Mental health
Being mentally healthy is linked to creativity, productivity, positive social relationships, and improved physical health and life expectancy.

