How many are considering Dry January?

I voted: "Are you f*cking kidding me?"

 

Such a horrible way to start a new year.

 

Everything in moderation, including moderation itself.

 

I try every year, but my conundrum is ‘how do I not drink beer during the NFL Playoffs, especially when my team (Buffalo Bills) are in it to win it, and I got a plate of wings in front of me’.,.
But, Yes, I will start with the greatest of intentions.

 

I did 'dry February' a few years ago. I spent the month trying NA (LA) beers, and made some realizations;

• The Superbowl is in February, and I missed having real beers to cry in while lamenting that the Packers weren't in it
• I experienced a lot of lousy to mediocre NA hopwater. The best NA I had was Guinness 0, but any NA is like a long drum-roll, waiting for the alcohol 'kick' that never arrives
• I pondered having a boilermaker using an NA beer and bourbon
• I missed out on BA 'cellaruary', when BA's explore and reduce their cellars in February
• Due to a couple of health issues, I'll likely have to give up alcohol eventually, and I won't switch to NA
• I'm much better off reducing the number of beers I have monthly, which I recently did when I stopped ticking Sours and IPAs, which were triggering reflux and allergies
• Moderation will be challenged by the upcoming annual Stout/Barleywine BIF/LIF, which lasted 6+ months in 2025. Not sure it's done yet

 

@TheIPAHunter what a great topic and since you asked for brutal honesty, I think I can obligate a moment.

I don’t drink as much as many people here, and that’s actually what makes beer more enjoyable to me. I drink for flavor and ritual, not to get drunk. When that line gets blurry, the beer itself starts to matter less.

Because of that, I think Dry January can make sense for anyone who drinks alcohol at all—not as a moral stance, but as a reset of palate, habit, and intention. Even a short break can clarify whether you’re choosing a beer because you genuinely want that beer, or simply because it’s the default.

Take the month or don’t—but if the idea of Dry January creates discomfort, that can be useful information by itself. At the very least, a pause often makes the beers that follow more intentional—and more enjoyable.

Cheers!

 

I'll do Dry January when I'm 6 feet under. Not before!

 

Dry January is necessary to offset Liquid Bread Lent.

 

General consensus at work regarding NA stuff is to just drink flavored seltzer instead.

We carry a fair amount of RTD mocktails, and I don't know how folks buy them. NA espresso martini? That's just iced coffee my dude. Tea mocktail? Fancy iced tea. NA citrus spritz? Orangina.

 

You may want to have your doctor take a look at that.

 

Never seen an orange one.

 

Ironically, I am sitting on a horde Orangina Mats, probably a 100 or more. Haven't drank one since 92...

 

Starting a new workout and diet cycle on January 4th. Will probably go until after Valentine's Day. Haven't gone "dry" for a while, so I'll be doing that too. Gained around 40 lbs. in the last 10 weeks, so it's about time to start reeling it in again. Diets suck, but being a fat **** does too, so I'm gonna fix that last bit.

 

JUST DO IT!! (Nothing personal; said only to give you some motivation.)

 

I skip it because I decided about six years ago to do a dry Lent, for matters of faith. I doubted I’d be able to make the seven-week sacrifice, but was surprised and relieved to not experience any hand-wringing moments where I’d be craving a beer. I mixed in a couple sixers of NA to scratch an itch when having specific meals (pizza, Mexican).

I found the break to be generally refreshing health-wise, although I’ve never dropped a pound during the half-dozen fasts. I suspect that’s because I’m craving and indulging in more sweets to replace the sugars I’m not getting from the alcohol.

Good luck to all dry January first-timers and annual practitioners. As many have pointed out, you’ll probably have a newfound appreciation for beers that somehow have become part of a routine.

 

Count me out
I think I’m old enough it doesn’t matter

 

At my girlfriend's request, I am giving it a shot. Load up on Athletic stock now. I proposed a January 2nd start, but was rebuffed.