Dry January 2027: the Softer Hour guide
Dry January 2027 runs from Friday, January 1 through Sunday, January 31. This page is the map: the dates and rules, a plan for each week, the nights that need a plan of their own, recipes worth making and how to pick a drink for the kind of evening you're having. Start wherever you are.
Start here
- New to it? Dry January 2027: dates, rules and how to get ready covers the basics in five minutes.
- Want a plan? Dry January week by week gives each week one job, one tricky moment and one thing to have in the fridge.
- Wondering what to drink? Dry January drink alternatives matches a drink to each moment you used to have a beer or a glass of wine.
Dry January 2027 at a glance
| The night before | New Year's Eve, Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
| Starts | Friday, January 1, 2027 |
| Ends | Sunday, January 31, 2027 |
| Weekends | Five: Jan 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 23–24 and 30–31 |
| Long weekend | Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 18 |
The month, week by week
Every week of Dry January 2027 starts on a Friday, which is handy: the hardest night of the week is also the first one.
| Week | Dates | What it asks of you |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Fri Jan 1 – Thu Jan 7 | Get through the holiday weekend and back to work |
| Week 2 | Fri Jan 8 – Thu Jan 14 | The first ordinary Friday: build a ritual |
| Week 3 | Fri Jan 15 – Thu Jan 21 | The long weekend and the middle of the month |
| Week 4 | Fri Jan 22 – Thu Jan 28 | Settle into what's working |
| Final stretch | Fri Jan 29 – Sun Jan 31 | Finish, then decide about February |
The full plan, with a Sunday check-in for each week, is in Dry January week by week.
The nights that need a plan
- New Year's Eve. The toast, the party and the first weekend. An alcohol-free New Year's Eve.
- Friday nights. The end-of-week drink is a strong habit. Give it a ritual instead: a favorite glass, ice, a garnish and a can you only open on Fridays.
- Bars and restaurants. Decide your order before you walk in. What to drink instead of alcohol at a bar.
- Parties. Set out something to sip that isn't plain water. Non-alcoholic drinks for a party.
- Dinner with wine drinkers. What to drink instead of wine.
- Game day. NFL playoff games fill most January weekends. Keep a cold swap in the fridge before kickoff, and have something to do with your hands. Alcohol-free drinks for game day.
Recipes for the month
Making a drink is half the point: it gives the evening the same small ritual a cocktail did.
- Dry January mocktails: 7 easy recipes. Five built on a can, two with no botanicals at all.
- Kanna mocktails: 5 easy recipes. Spritzes, a paloma and a holiday punch.
Pick a drink by the kind of night
Not every evening in January is the same evening. The shop section on our homepage groups the cans by occasion and flavor, what to drink tonight goes night by night, and the 60-second drink finder asks five questions and picks one can to start with and one to try next.
Two rules for every can on this site: one can is one serving, and none of them gets mixed with alcohol.
If it's harder than you expected
Dry January is a challenge, not a test you can fail. If a month off feels much harder than you thought it would, or you're worried about your drinking, that's worth talking to someone about. In the US, SAMHSA's National Helpline is free, confidential and open 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357. If you drink heavily every day, talk to a doctor before stopping, because alcohol withdrawal can be serious.
The botanical cans on this site are for adults 21+ and aren't a substitute for support. They aren't recommended if you're in recovery.
After January
February 1 is a decision, not a finish line. Some people go back to drinking as before, some keep a few dry nights a week and some keep going. If you want to keep cutting back, how to drink less alcohol has practical tips.
Dry January FAQ
When does Dry January 2027 start and end? Friday, January 1 through Sunday, January 31, 2027.
Do non-alcoholic drinks count? Yes. NA beer, NA wine, mocktails and alcohol-free botanical drinks are all dry.
What if I slip? Pick it back up the next day. The month still counts.
Can I add a kava can to a cocktail? No. Kava doesn't mix with alcohol. The cans are the swap, not a mixer.
Who should skip kava
- Kava drinks are for adults 21+.
- Kava has rare reports of liver problems, mostly linked to concentrated supplements. Skip it if you have a liver condition, are pregnant or nursing, or take medications that affect the liver or nervous system.
- Don't mix it with alcohol, and don't drive after drinking it. Talk to your doctor if you're unsure.
Who should skip kratom
- Kratom drinks are for adults 21+.
- Kratom can be habit-forming with regular use. The FDA hasn't approved it for any use, and it's restricted in some states and cities, so check your local rules.
- Skip it if you're pregnant or nursing, in recovery from alcohol or other substance use, or take any daily medication. Talk to your doctor if you're unsure.
- One can is one serving. Don't drink it with alcohol or other botanicals, and don't drive after drinking it.
Who should skip kanna
- Kanna drinks are for adults 21+.
- Never combine kanna with antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs) or other serotonergic medications.
- Skip it if you're pregnant or nursing, and talk to your doctor if you take any daily medication.
- One can is one serving. Don't drink it with alcohol, and don't drive after drinking it.
Related: Dry January 2027: dates and rules · Dry January week by week · Dry January mocktails · Alcohol-free New Year's Eve