The popular New Years' Resolution: Dry January

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Between New Years' resolutions and a popular practice called Dry January, more and more adults will be taking a break from the booze and beginning their 2025 on a clean slate!

"It's a really nice experiment to understand that you don't have to have alcohol to interact with people," says Dr. Akhil, a psychiatrist with the Cleveland Clinic.

If you're a social drinker, taking a shot at Dry January might be worth a try.

According to alcoholhelp.com, a quarter of Americans avoided alcohol completely for the month of January in 2024.

The practice rose in popularity after the covid pandemic when alcohol consumption and sales increased exponentially.

The trend has stuck around though, thanks to younger generations.

Alcoholhelp.com says 35% of Gen-Z aged 21-24 practiced Dry January in 2024.

Whether it's the beginning of a healthier lifestyle in the new year, to save a bit of money, or you just want to try it because your friends are, experts say the trend is a more fun way to test your discipline.

"If you, you know, slip up, it's okay. It's not about perfection; it's just about drinking less in the long run," says Hilary Sheinbaum, author of "Going Dry: A Workbook." "I think, you know, a big one is really trying those nonalcoholic options."

Many local bars and breweries offer plenty of non-alcoholic options like mocktails and non-alcoholic beers.