Dry(ish) January is here to stay
Aloha!
It's that time of the year again when our liver gets a vacay and the vibes focus on improvement after two months of celebrating, and party punches. It's Dry(ish) January!
We wanted to take a look at where this phenomenon came from, and provide a little insight into why, though it’s not for everyone, it could be for you…even if you don’t do the whole month.
Cut the alcohol, and add on the benefits
Let’s jump back to 2013. A group of groovy folks at Alcohol Change UK decided it was high time we give our bodies a post-festive detox. So, they kicked off Dry January, challenging people to ditch the drinks for 31 days. Little did they know, they were starting what would become a global health movement, and a renaissance of zero-proof drinks.
Now, let's fast-forward about a decade to today where millions are onboard, and partying sans-alcohol the start of every year. If you think mocktails, or zero-proof alcohol is a fad, think again.
According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis in 2022, sales of no- and low-alcohol beverages grew by more than 7% in volume, surpassing $11 billion in market value, up from $8 billion in 2018.
That’s an insane amount of growth in a short period of time, and with more and more options coming on the market it’s only going to continue to grow.
So why Say ‘Yes’ to a Dry(ish) Jan?
Let's break it down:
1. Better Zzz's: Alcohol might help you doze off, but it sure kicks good sleep to the curb later. Participating in Dry January could mean saying hello to more high-quality shut-eye, and who doesn't love that (or need that)?
2. Hello, Glow! Move over Edward Cullen. Your skin gets all sorts of sparkly when you cut out the booze, and gives you the glow you deserve. Hydration is the name of the game, and your skin is eager to play.
3. Cash in the Bank: The economics of it are simple – fewer cocktails = more cash. There’s a caveat here that if you’re searching for high quality mocktails when out-and-about with friends you’re likely still going to end up paying $8-12 for your drinks. Less than you would buying that mixologists go-to, but lets be real…still more expensive than water.
4. Mood Booster: Despite the happy-go-lucky vibes of a tipsy sprint, alcohol's actually a depressant. Cut it out, and you might just see your mood inflate. Therapists routinely will recommend cutting out alcohol if you’re just not feeling yourself. It’s absolutely okay to not want to paint the town red.
5. Give your belt a break: With alcohol out of the picture, it's likely you'll dodge a ton of empty calories. Many people report cutting back, or cutting out alcohol contributes to better hydration which in turn contributes to weight loss.
6. Heart and Liver Love: Give these organs a break. These are the two that you won’t be able to feel, but trust us they are going to thank you later. Reducing alcohol can lead to lower blood pressure and a happier liver. Who doesn’t love happier livers?
Dry(ish) January Means Progress, Not Perfection…
This is one of my all-time favorite mottos. The important thing for me to remember during Dry January, if you’re participating, is that you don’t have to be perfect. If you normally have 20 drinks per month, and with Dry(ish) January you end up having 4-5 drinks this month, that’s progress. It doesn’t make you a bad person and it certainly doesn’t mean you should give up on the whole month if you end up having that one drink.
Here’s my favorite go-to zero-proof recipe that we created when my wife was pregnant this past year. Once again we used Seedlip as our zero-proof spirit, which you can get on our website along with lots of fantastic glassware to drink it out of.
Garden Grapefruit Swizzle
2oz Seedlip Garden 108
1oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
1oz Simple Syrup
Top it off with grapefruit soda
Fresh Mint
Grapefruit Slice Garnish
Instructions:
In a cocktail shaker add Seedlip, lime juice, simple syrup, and clear ice. Shake for 30 seconds, until mixture is cold.
In a highball or Mai-Tai glass add high-quality pebble ice.
Pour mixture into glass, and top off with grapefruit soda.
Garnish with a generous handful of mint sprigs, and a grapefruit slice over the rim.
