North Haven mum Gayl Ellis has never participated in Dry July before, but this year she is going to join hundreds of thousands of people who will do exactly that.

Mrs Ellis is under no illusions as to how difficult it will be at various stages of the 31-day period.

"I love a glass of wine and I usually have one or two beers when I'm cooking dinner, so it's going to be difficult not to do that, but I'll just have to have a glass of water instead," she said.

"We're brought up in a society where drinking is the norm so I wanted to try and do my bit to help break that cycle.

"I want my kids to be brought up in a society where drinking isn't the norm and I feel I have to contribute to that, that's my main aim."

Mrs Ellis said July was shaping up to be a busy month socially, which would provide another hurdle.

"I've got quite a few things on during July and that wasn't the main reason I did it, but I know it's going to be a challenge and there's no point doing something if it isn't hard," she said.

"I told my husband he should do it with me, but he said he didn't have a drinking problem," she laughed.

Mrs Ellis said participating in Dry July was something more than just not drinking alcohol for a month - it was about creating awareness.

"You ask people to go a week without a drink and they all say they can't do it," she said.

"It's just a way of winding down after a day at work we all just have a beer or a glass of wine.

"I just want to break the chain and it's for such a good cause. I've known lots of people who have been affected by cancer, or had family members pass away from cancer."