Dry January Survival Guide: Tips to Thrive Without Alcohol

Jan 13, 2026

By Louise Avery

We all know that after the initial NYE hangover wears off, Dry January becomes a little more challenging. Statistically, most people regress by the 16th of January, so we wanted to put together some tips to help you navigate the ‘slump’.

The secret is that if you can continue momentum until the end of the month, then the rewards on the other side far outweigh a momentary lapse.

Dry January Benefits: why keep going?

There is a massive confidence boost to be gained from sticking to a promise you made to yourself. Beyond the "reset" for your liver, the physical shifts are real. You’ll likely notice clearer skin, a steadier mood, and a deeper sense of motivation.

I decided to skip the booze entirely this past Christmas. Usually, by January 3rd, I’m battling that familiar "serotonin dip" and the mild hopelessness that follows a boozy New Year’s Eve. This year, in contrast, I felt quietly hopeful. The challenges of last year felt genuinely in the past. Dry January isn't just about ‘quitting’; it’s about sowing new seeds of habit, to create abundance rather than feelings of ‘missing out’.

Here are some tips and ideas to help you navigate that tricky 2nd and 3rd week of Jan.

1. Elevate Your Evening Ritual

Elderflower cordial and fruit juice become predictable quite quickly. To succeed, you need to replace the "drink," not just remove it. Make your evening pour a ritual by stocking up on interesting, well-crafted brands.

L.A. Brewery: (Naturally) Our sparkling drinks are the perfect complex alternative to wine and make wonderful cocktail mixers too.

Our other favourites include Mother Root for a ginger and apple cider vinegar kick, Three Spirit for a natural mood lift, and Noughty for when only sparkling wine will do.

If you would like to have even more fun, we have limitless recipes on our Instagram for making your own cordials and cocktails.

Here are my 3 current favourites:

L.A Ginger Punch – fresh, spicy and delicious.

Winter Berry Blush – Mix our Sparkling Blush with a non-alc mulled cordial. It uses seasonal British apples and frozen berries for a vitamin-packed flavor punch.

Clementine Rose – Clementines are at their peak right now. Pair them with our Sparkling Rose for a sophisticated, seasonal "January Bucks Fizz."

2. Find a Pink Cloud through Exercise

Movement is everything in January. When you combine the endorphins of exercise with the natural clarity of sobriety, you hit "Pink Cloud" territory - that blissful state of feeling truly high on life.

It might be walking daily before work or on your lunch hour to make the most of these bright, beautiful days, or it could be finally trying reformer pilates or a gentle yoga class.

I’ve recently started Callisthenics @caliunity in Bath, and it has changed my life in terms of having fun whilst exercising - who knew working on handstands was even possible in one's 40s. It is, and it’s great.

3. Use Food for Fuel

It is essential to treat yourself. When you are not drinking, food becomes extra important. You need taste, nutrition, and most importantly, satisfaction. If you’ve been exercising, then lean into that appetite. There is nothing better than the ritual of winding down with a delicious drink while cooking a well-deserved feast. It’s cold, so it’s important to have warming, nutritious slow slow-absorption foods. Think beautiful bean dishes, casseroles and roasted vegetables, as well as carbohydrates like pasta (it can’t all be superfoods!).

Clean & Comforting January Meals You’ll Love:

Cottage cheese pancake – a protein-packed breakfast treat that’s perfect for post-workout recovery.

Cavalo Nero Beans – Creamy beans meet a Parmesan-rich green pesto. Pure comfort food.

Vodka pasta – I’d eat this every day if I could. Rich tomato parmesan sauce. The alcohol in the vodka burns off, leaving a rich, tangy flavour.