IT’S one thing to give up alcohol for Dry January but another quitting for an entire year.

That’s what James Hughes has vowed to do in 2018 and all in the name of charity.

James, from Worthing, is hoping to receive £1,825 in donations by the end of the year – roughly the equivalent of the cost of a pint of beer a day - for St Barnabas House hospice in Worthing.

He said: “In future when I’m out socially and someone asks if I’d like a drink, I’ll be asking them to make a donation to the charity instead.”

James, 40, said he gave up alcohol for Stoptober in October and then decided to continue until Christmas.

It wasn’t until he’d made it through the festive season he decided to make his bold pledge for the whole of 2018.

James, who works for Legal and General based in Hove and sits on the Mature Savings charity committee, said: “I turned 40 last year so I decided I wanted to do something to lose weight and improve my health generally so I decided to quit alcohol for Stoptober.

“Once it got to the end of the month, I thought instead of just rushing out to the pub, I’d carry on and I haven’t had a drink since.

“I didn’t even have a drink on Christmas Day!

“Then during a charity committee meeting at work, in a bit of a spur of the moment decision, I decided to give up all year to raise money for St Barnabas.

“Now it’s more official rather than just an idea, I’m even more determined.”

The Mature Savings division of Legal & General has been supporting its employees through Dry January by promoting the campaign internally and giving them a bottle of Belvoir Presse earlier this month.

To donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/dry-2018.