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Doing Dry January? Try This.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Author Aimee Thomas
A man drinks a pint of beer on November 26, 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland.

I have been doing Dry January for about 10 years now. I don’t start until January 6th or 7th though because it’s normally my birthday weekend. So I guess I do dry 3 weeks in January. But it’s a nice goal to set and achieve to kick off the new year. I miss wine when I do dry January but I honestly feel so much better by the end of the month.

Here are some of the differences I see when participating in Dry January:

  • My overall health improves. I feel better each day.
  • Every year is different but most years I lose about 5lbs from just skipping the wine.
  • I sleep better. I don’t know the scientific reasoning – I read it had something to do with your blood sugar. But I know I sleep amazingly during January. (Other than my toddler kicking me).
  • I feel like I can focus better on certain things and my overall mood seems to be better.
  • I save money! Not that my wine consumption was causing me to go broke but when we go out to dinner or to a concert and skip the glass of wine or beer it saves my husband and me $25 at least!
  • It’s setting you up for success for the year. When you do dry January you crush your goal out of the new year gate!

If you are doing Dry January and you are looking for a replacement for something to drink in place of your boos I stumbled across this locally made drink at the Down Town Summerlin Farmers Market and it tastes so good. It’s called Lumanai. It’s made with Kava, and I explain to everyone that it is like getting a buzz without the boos. It tastes great, you’re shopping small business and local and it’s a healthy alternative for Dry January. Win, win, win win.

 

Everyone benefits differently when participating but the key word there is ‘benefit’ because everyone does one way or all of the ways. Good luck with crushing your goals this year! You got this!

Aimee Thomas is the morning show co-host of Aimee + Shawn on 102.7 VGS. She has been VGS since the birth of the station in 2022 and has been with Beasley Media Group for nine years doing mornings at various stations in the cluster. Before working in radio Aimee was a bartender at a local restaurant in Las Vegas when a local radio veteran thought she would be perfect in radio because of her crazy stories, knowledge of pop culture, and contagious laugh. Aimee loves writing about new recipes she creates in her kitchen, her favorite artists and actors, and being a mom of two boys.

No Booze, No Problem: Alternatives for Dry January

We have kicked off the new year, and many people are using it as an opportunity to ditch booze for the entire first month of 2024. The “Dry January” trend encourages people to abstain from alcohol for 31 days straight.

Originating as a campaign devised and spearheaded by Alcohol Change UK over a decade ago, Dry January serves the purpose of addressing the adverse effects of alcohol, as outlined on their website. In response to this movement, numerous restaurants and bars are adapting their menus to include mocktails and nonalcoholic versions of popular drinks, including nonalcoholic beers and wines. Although not a new concept, its popularity is on the rise.

Many sober-curious people in the United States take on this annual challenge. According to previous surveys by Morning Consult Pro, participation in Dry January ranges from 15% to 35% among U.S. drinkers overall.

Statista projects that the revenue in the non-alcoholic drinks market in the United States will reach US$526.1 billion in 2024, with an estimated annual growth rate of 3.22% (CAGR 2024-2027). This surge is attributed to an escalating demand for healthy and natural non-alcoholic beverages in the country.

Harvard Health Publishing has reported that even a one-month abstinence from alcohol can hold noticeable health benefits. A study in BMJ Open found that regular drinkers who refrained from alcohol for 30 days experienced improved sleep, increased energy, weight loss, lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, and diminished cancer-related proteins in their blood.

So, if you’re thinking about dialing back on the booze or just starting the year with a clean slate, why not jump on the Dry January train and give up beer, wine, or spirits for a month? And if you’re curious about some cool nonalcoholic options to enjoy during Dry January, check out some of our top picks.

  • NA Lager Beer

    When it comes to nonalcoholic beer that captures the essence of a lager, Heineken 0.0 stands out as a reliable pick. It’s only 69 calories per serving and has fruity, malty flavors. Someone even took to Reddit to share their love for the NA beer with many people agreeing that Heineken 0.0 tastes better than the “real” Heineken.

     

  • NA IPA Beer

    Samuel Adams’s Just the Haze kicks off with a citrusy aroma, featuring the scents of grapefruit, tangerine, and lime alongside tropical fruit flavors like pineapple, guava, and passion fruit. Visually, it has a hazy pale amber look with a golden-orange glow. It’s worth mentioning that according to the Samuel Adams website, the “non-alc Hazy IPA” has less than 0.5% alcohol and is only 98 calories.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CsHa7NqNyom/

  • NA Wine

    The Gruvi NA Dry Red Blend has cranberry and cherry aromas with hints of cardamom and nutmeg. With a gluten-free and vegan-friendly tag, it packs less than 0.5% ABV and only 45 calories per serving. According to their website, it was an award winner at the International Wine and Spirits Competition 23. If red wine isn’t really your thing, they also have a line of white wines.

  • Zero Proof Liquors

    There are plenty of nonalcoholic liquor replacements and not all of them are created equal or carry the flavor of actual alcohol. Ritual Zero Proof is an easy choice. They have alternatives to tequila, whiskey, rum, gin, among others. Their tequila substitute brings a tropical and earthy flavor.  Meanwhile, their rum substitute captures the warm vanilla and toasted spice essence of a dark rum. They also carry gin and whiskey alternatives.

  • More Liquor Alternatives

    Three Spirits Elixirs are designed by plant scientists and bartenders to “make moods and enhance connections throughout the day and into the night.” They pack their drinks full of active plants, adaptogens, and herbs. Their NA drinks cocktails are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Author Aimee Thomas
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