WORKERS at a Newport-based insurance firm are backing ‘Dry January’ this month with the aim of getting people to think about their attitude to drink.

Workers at Admiral’s Newport, Swansea and Cardiff offices have banded together to form Dry January teams to give up alcohol for 31 days, starting from yesterday.

Across South Wales more than 100 Admiral employees have signed up to the scheme, run by Alcohol Concern Cymru. Dry January in a campaign supported by the company’s workplace health forum, known as the Ministry of Health.

Dry January is run by with the aim of getting people to think about their attitude to drink.

Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern Cymru, said: “A large number of the people we surveyed after Dry January last year said they had changed their attitude to drink after their month off.

“People still enjoy a drink but Dry January has made them think a bit about the benefits of drinking less or less often.

“That really is our aim – to get a conversation going about alcohol. We’re hoping Dry January will be fun as well, so we’re looking for great ideas for how people can replace the alcohol element of a night out or a party.

“Having Admiral join us in encouraging the conversation is a real boost. “ Like us, they are not setting out to be killjoys.

“Together, we hope to make people a bit more aware of how sensible drinking can still be fun – and how people can improve their health by reducing the amount they drink.”“Employers like Admiral are forward looking in their approach to employees’ health and the company’s Ministry of Health is a great example of how everyone can get involved in health policies at work.”