Dry January is motivating many Americans to start the year alcohol-free. The campaign began in 2013 when the nonprofit Alcohol Change UK introduced Dry January as a public health initiative.
Its mission was to urge people to rethink their drinking habits, especially after the holiday season. Organizers also wanted to highlight benefits such as better sleep, weight management and improved mental clarity.
“These are people who may want to use January to put a mirror up to their own relationship with alcohol, just to reflect,” says Dr. Michael Caldwell, chief medical officer of Dry January USA. “We’re not anti-alcohol. We want everyone to have their own journey.”
However, Dr. Caldwell warns that people who drink five or more alcoholic beverages a day may need professional guidance before taking on Dry January.
Dr. Caldwell, who teaches public health at Meharry School of Global Health and Meharry Medical College, now works to expand Dry January within the U.S.
Recently, Dry January USA signed a licensing agreement with Alcohol Change UK to manage the Dry January trademark in the states. Organizers are pushing to earn the movement recognition nationwide.
In fact, Jan. 7, 2025, marks the inaugural Dry January USA Day, featuring bright yellow illuminations in cities such as Chicago and Nashville.
Non-alcoholic trends on the rise
According to a Beer Institute and Morning Consult poll, 58% of Americans reach for low- or no-alcohol beer options during Dry January. Dr. Caldwell notes that “there are these technological advances for adult non-alcoholic beverages.”
He adds, “It offers people choices to be able to have that feel and experience of a beer, wine, or cocktail without them really missing that there’s no alcohol in it.”
Meanwhile, non-alcoholic wine is also growing. Vintense, a company specializing in alcohol-free wine, says their product retains the antioxidant power of grape juice, including anthocyanins that can improve energy and immunity while helping to protect against cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
Health concerns go beyond the liver
A Gallup poll shows 45% of Americans think having one or two drinks a day is bad for health, yet 58% still consume alcohol. Experts say alcohol-related dangers extend well beyond the liver.
“They think, oh, maybe liver cancer. Well, yes, but all the digestive cancers in your mouth, your esophagus, colon cancer, breast cancer,” warns Caldwell. “Many women really don’t realize there’s a strong link between any alcohol use and their risk of breast cancer.”
Planning ahead and using accountability tools help many people succeed with Dry January. Alcohol Change UK’s “Try Dry” app, for instance, allows participants to track their alcohol-free days and recognize important milestones.
If Dry January sounds appealing, consider your own health status and habits first. Then, decide if going alcohol-free next month might lead to more lasting changes all year long.
