How to Have a Successful Dry January

Looking for the best Dry January tips to make this month a success? Whether you’re new to the challenge or a seasoned participant, the right strategies can help you stay motivated and enjoy every step of the journey. From staying social to crafting delicious mocktails, these tips will keep you on track all month long!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and buy something, Feast + West receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

10 Dry January Tips for a Successful Booze-Free Month

If you’re doing Dry January, you have 31 days to embrace a zero-proof lifestyle and explore what this challenge can look like for you.

To set yourself up for success, start by choosing a few favorite non-alcoholic drinks (or discovering new ones!) and ensuring they’re ready to enjoy whenever you need a fallback. Having a plan in place will make it easier to navigate social situations or moments of temptation.

Not sure where to begin? These Dry January tips will help you craft a month of delicious mocktails and stay on track with ease.

1. Set an intention.

This might sound silly, but setting an intention or writing down the reasons why you are doing Dry January really does help. Here are some reasons you might be partaking in a month of mocktails:

• Resetting after a busy month and holiday season
• Starting the year/month on a fresh note
• Practicing mindful drinking
• Saving money on buying alcohol
• Setting a resolution (either in January or after an anniversary or birthday)
• Solidarity with a friend starting or kicking a habit

You don’t have to tell anyone why, but it’s something to remember when things get tough.

2. Schedule reminders and eliminate temptations.

The easiest reminder is actually a lack of one: Remove any temptations. Ask a friend to stash your booze at their place or hide it in another place in your home where you won’t go looking for it.

Another thing I like to do is print out a calendar and put it on the fridge. Every day I abstain, I will mark it off with a marker. Seeing my progress every day motivates me to keep going.

You can download my free, printable Dry January tracker when you sign up for the Month of Mocktails challenge.

3. If you fall, get back up.

In the book Atomic Habits by James Clear (I’ve read it three times and I highly recommend it!), the author suggests this: It’s okay to miss a day, but don’t miss two.

So if you have an off day and end up imbibing, don’t give up or beat yourself up about it! Just start over again tomorrow. Honestly, this is the best Dry January tip.

4. Adjust the plan.

If not drinking for a whole month sounds tough, take it at your own pace and start small. Drink less, without giving it up altogether, to make it a little simpler:

1. Try limiting yourself to a certain number of drinks per week. For example, have one drink per week, or only drink on the weekends but not weeknights.
2. Choose low-ABV (alcohol by volume) drinks. These are drinks that contain less alcohol. You can use less alcohol altogether. Another idea is to mix an alcoholic spirit with a similar tasting zero-proof spirit. Half of each, to yield the full amount your recipe calls for, is a good place to start.
3. Commit to a shorter time frame. You could also do Dry January for just a week or two, instead of the full 31 days.

5. Get some accountability.

Ask a buddy to join you in your Dry January journey. Check in with each other to see how the month is going and encourage each other. Plan outings together or set up a virtual mocktail happy hour every week.

If you can’t find someone to do it with you, tell a friend, family member or your partner what you’re doing — ask them to check in on you throughout the month.

6. Stay strong in social situations.

You can still hang out with friends, family and coworkers while you’re doing Dry January! If you’re comfortable telling your companions, it can help you stay honest and not be tempted.

If you’re going out, pick a spot with great alcohol-free options. Many bars and restaurants now offer non-alcoholic drinks on their menus year-round. You can even find bars dedicated to zero-proof drinks all over the world. Use this ​Sober Bar Finder​ to help you scout.

And if you’re headed to a friend’s place or a party, don’t be afraid to BYOBeverage so you know there’s something you’ll drink.

7. Don’t forget your favorites.

You don’t have to completely give up your favorite cocktails for the month! Thanks to ​zero-proof​ spirits and tweaks to the recipes, it’s fairly easy to customize a classic drink with a solid base. Try one of these favorites:

• Virgin White Russian
• Frozen Virgin Strawberry Margarita
• Virgin Espresso Martini
• Frozen Virgin Daiquiri
• Virgin Mimosas
• Moscow Mule Mocktail

And if any of your recipes call for bitters, you can use non-alcoholic bitters! Regular bitters contain trace amounts of alcohol, so if you are abstaining completely, you may want to use the virgin version to add flavor to your drinks.

8. Stick to the classics.

There are plenty of delicious drinks out there that aren’t intended to have alcohol. From a classic Arnold Palmer to a frozen Mexican ​mangonada​, the classics are always a good place to start. It’s a great way to try new things! 

If you love crafting cocktails, give other types of drinks a try! Maybe you try whipping up ​copycat coffee drinks​ to avoid the line at the coffee shop or make your own syrups and ​mixers​. You may discover something new to continue to enjoy throughout the year!

9. Shake things up.

There are way more mocktails than just Shirley Temples​. (Don’t get me wrong: I love STs — but I don’t always want a sugary drink!)

With more non-alcoholic choices than ever, sober-curious social drinkers have nothing to worry about. When you have a mocktail recipe you are excited to try, you will be more inclined to make it and less likely to grab the booze. Start with these three easy mocktail recipes that are a great place to start.

10. Try a new product.

Stock up on some new drinks. Hit up the soda or juice section of the grocery store, and try something you’ve never tried before. Whether it’s a new flavor of seltzer or new-to-you soda, choose something you can get excited about and look forward to tasting. You might discover a new favorite!