Have you noticed that it’s hard to find someone to go out for a drink with you these days?
Don’t worry, it’s not you.
A growing number of people are practicing Dry January. A month of going alcohol free, Dry January was launched in the United Kingdom in 2013, with 4,000 participants; it is now a global phenomenon. A CivicScience study reported that in 2024, 25 percent of Americans over 21 participated.
Greg DeMarco, co-owner of Rye Roadhouse, sees it firsthand.
“The first couple of weeks after New Year’s are the quietest of the year,” he said. “I do see people who are taking time to do Dry January moving to nonalcoholic drinks and abstaining completely.”
Jacqueline Gonzalez, the manager at Winfield Coffee Rye, agreed. “Past experiences in different places I’ve worked, I’ve noticed that in January, it’s a pattern because everyone is setting themselves new goals,” she said.
After holiday festivities, which may be filled with overindulgences of all sorts, people naturally retreat to a different rhythm.
“In general, the holidays are a time when many people might have more alcohol than their usual. Dry January is ideal for people who are trying to get back to their baseline again and remain in control of their alcohol use,” said Dr. George Boutis, an internal medicine specialist at Summit Health. He cautioned, however, that Dry January is not appropriate for people with severe alcohol dependency issues. “If you think you have a serious drinking problem, seek help from your primary care doctor,” he urged.
Megan Strowger, lead author of a Brown University School of Public Health study, said “Overall, participating in Dry January allows people to pause, reflect, and rethink their relationship with alcohol, including how it affects their social life, mental health, and physical health.”
A British study found that that participating in Dry January may be associated with healthier drinking and greater ability to refuse drinks. Up to six months later, most participants reported they were drinking less often and having fewer drinks when they did. “Very few people reported increased alcohol consumption following a period of voluntary abstinence,” the study found.
By participating in Dry January, Boutis said, you may:
- Sleep better. As your body metabolizes alcohol while asleep, it can lead to frequent awakenings throughout the night. This disrupts REM sleep in particular which is important for cognitive functioning like memory and mood regulation.
- Lose weight. Alcohol comes with a lot of calories and sugars.
- Be in a better mood and have greater energy. Another caution: If you find that you are feeling anxious or depressed without alcohol, it’s a sign that you are using it to mask something else. See your primary care physician.
- Improve your blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and liver function.
- Enhance hair and skin because you are less dehydrated.Rye restauranteurs are ready to help you with your Dry January pursuits, even offering suggestions for how to do it. Dry January is not about restriction as much as it about reorientation.
So try some of the following:
- Mocktails. DeMarco noticed that during the month, many people will order nonalcoholic versions of mixed drinks. Such cocktails as Hurricanes, Bloody Marys, Transfusions, and Swamp Juice Drinks all lend themselves to the mocktail while still giving the social feel of drinking. Gonzalez reported favorite mocktails from their bar include the Lavender Field and Citrus Bloom.
- Nonalcoholic beer. DeMarco also sees an uptick in their three offerings: Guinness, Heineken Zero, and Athletic Brewing Company IPA.
- Spicy beverages. Tingly drinks such as seltzer, kombucha, hot spiced cider, chai tea and ones that are espresso-based stimulate your taste buds, providing some of the “fun” of alcohol, said Gonzalez. Two favorites at Winfield’s are a current special called Gingerbread Chai — “the iced version is topped with a gingerbread man” — and a popular Dulce de Leche Latte, which is topped with a dollop of cold foam and a cinnamon dusting.
- CBD Infused Drinks. CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating compound derived from hemp that can be used to manage anxiety, pain, and insomnia. Katherine Montane, former owner of Rye’s Your CBD Store, which closed in December, said that CBD-infused drinks can help you reduce stress without a hangover, sleep interruption, liver damage, or dehydration. “You don’t get high from it. It helps you relax without any psychoactive feeling with it,” she said. However, make sure you are getting CBD infusions, not ones with THC (the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis), which will make you high. While Montane’s store is closed, if you don’t mind a short road trip, Fine Fettle in Stamford sells these beverages. Or you can buy online at Pamos.com.
And some other tips to make Dry January Work:
- Find New Activities: Instead of meeting friends for meals or drinks, try going for walks or working out together. Or pick up a new hobby or skill that can keep you distracted.
- Avoid Your Triggers: Stay away from situations where you know you will be tempted. If you know that you tend to lean on alcohol when you are stressed or tired, try yoga or meditation instead.
- Tell Others: They can help you stay the course; better yet, they may even join you! “Accountability does work,” said Boutis.
- Use Tech Support: Download Try Dry, an app that inspires you by tracking calories and money saved, monitoring your well-being, and understanding your drinking pattern.
- Give Yourself an Incentive: Put all the money you saved on drinks into a jar and then splurge on something fun in February!
And if you slip up? Don’t give up, said Boutis. “This is not an all-or-nothing type of situation. Everybody can make slipups here and there, but it’s important to get back on track again.”
