By now, you're probably getting into the rhythm of what works for you during your dry challenge. We often get asked whether drinking alcohol-free alternatives will help during a dry month, and whilst they work for many people, the full answer is: it’s personal and it really depends.
Zena’s experience
"I loved experimenting with alcohol-free spirits and mixers. It felt really satisfying to create something tasty and put it in a special glass when I needed a pick-me-up. It really helped me feel like I wasn't missing out and it was also handy to lean on alcohol-free bubbly drinks for celebrations. I felt like I could avoid the awkward questions from others about me not drinking and just get on with the good times - without the embarrassment or next-day hangover."
Finn's experience
"I really enjoyed using alcohol-free drinks the first time I challenged myself to do Dry January. It was nice to treat myself occasionally throughout the month and it was a whole new world of drinks I'd not really explored until then. I couldn't believe the variety of alcohol-free alternatives in some of my locals, to be honest. I thought it'd just be cranberry juice! Nowadays, if I meet up with friends, I like to start out with some of my favourite alcohol-free drinks before deciding whether to switch to alcohol or not. That way, I feel able to not get carried away from the start and I've easily cut back the amount I'm drinking. It's nice to have the confidence to moderate like this and end the night feeling in control and where I want to be; I think it's something I learned during Dry January."
Barry’s experience
“It started off well for me with alcohol-free drinks. I went to town researching alternatives I thought I'd like and stocking up on different no-low beer varieties ahead of the challenge - but before I knew it, I was drinking as much alcohol-free beer as I did the strong stuff. I was finding it hard not to reach for an can after 5pm on weeknights, or crates of the stuff at weekends. It felt like I was heading into the danger zone of drinking again.”
Lemar’s experience
"When I first signed up to Dry January, I drank A LOT of alcohol-free wine. As time passed and my lifestyle changed, I found I was drinking the wine much less as I just didn’t feel the need any more. I took up quite a few new activities to fill the time, so by the evening (which was always my trigger to start on the wine in the past), I was busy at one of my new sports clubs!”
