Our local Dry January volunteers have less than 48 hours to wait before they can drink alcohol again - if they choose to.

Drs Tony Jones, Bob Bowes and David Chesover were among the thousands of people across the country who pledged to give up booze for the 31 days of January.

Dr Jones said: “I’m looking forward to February 1, more than I thought I would be! But it’s been a really useful exercise.

“Our main agenda was always to promote discussion and I have talked to dozens of patients over the month about their alcohol intake, and several with more harmful levels of consumption have joined in with me on dry January.”

Dr Jones, of The Vine Medical Centre in Maidstone, has taken the challenge very seriously indeed, even sending back his dinner one night when it turned out to be chicken in white wine sauce.

Dr Chesover, of the Thornhills Medical Practice in Martin Square, Larkfield, said: “I am pleased to report that I have not touched a drop so far and I have not missed it.

“The challenge does seem to have got people talking and I feel there is a greater awareness generally of the dangers of excessive alcohol drinking.

“Many patients have said to me it has made them think again about cutting down alcohol intake.”

Dr Bowes, the chairman of the NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Avoiding alcohol is going well. Had I been told to give up tea or chocolate it would be an entirely different matter!”

Kent Messenger reporter Alan Smith has also stayed on the wagon. He said: “Has a month gone already? Let’s stretch it to two.”