Businesses that sell alcohol have been sharing their opinions on how to deal with the impact of the Dry January campaign.

Pub landlords and distillery owners believe that the campaign can prove a challenge to the alcohol industry but there they have different ideas on how to tackle a alack of customers.

The Dry January sees people give up alcohol for a month as a means of getting healthier or raising money for charity.

The campaign has rapidly grown in popularity since it started in 2013. Then, only 5,000 people took part, whereas this year over 4.2 million people signed up to the challenge.

But with so many people suddenly going sober, the alcohol industry is at risk. According to CGA Strategy, alcohol sales plummeted 7% in 2015 and has been falling since, whilst pubs have suffered massive losses.

Graham Newbury who owns Bridge Street Ale House in Newcastle-under-Lyne, says: “My last pub saw an 80% drop in trade in January.

“This is why so many big pubs are closing in January. Landlords can’t afford to pay the rent, can’t afford to buy the beer. Dry January does an awful lot of damage to the pub industry.”

Alcohol Change UK, the charity who run the campaign, do not believe that what they promote should be a detriment to landlords.

Dr Richard Piper, the charity’s CEO, hopes: “More pubs will get on board with Dry January and provide great alcohol-free and low alcohol options all year-round.”

It’s a sentiment supported by Will Edge, founder of Greensand Ridge Distillery in Shipborne who believes: “If people are drinking in a more responsible way then we have to adapt to their needs.

“Pubs, distilleries, restaurants, bars. We all have to adapt.”

Not all agree with this. Many are happy to stick to what they believing that they can get through months like Dry January.

Cyril Cypres-Paries, co-owns The Flippin’ Frog micropub in Rochester and firmly says: “We will not buck from tradition.

“The great thing about a pub like ours is that you don’t have to drink alcohol to come in. You can have a cup of tea or an orange juice and you will be just as welcome. Pubs are community areas where people can socialise and hang out.

“Alcohol or not that won’t change and this January we’ve barely been affected by the campaign.”

Of course, no one ones to see pubs disappear from our streets, but only time will tell whether pubs and distillers can continue to do business the traditional, alcoholic, way.