Dry January 2027: dates, rules and how to get ready
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Dry January 2027 runs from Friday, January 1 through Sunday, January 31: 31 days without alcohol. It's free, there's no sign-up required, and the only rule is the one in the name. This guide covers the dates, how it works, how to get ready in December and the nights that trip people up.
What is Dry January?
Dry January is a month off alcohol, started in the UK in 2013 by the charity Alcohol Change UK and now done by millions of people in the US and elsewhere. Some people do it to reset a habit, some to save money, some just to see what a month without drinking feels like. Nobody checks; you set the terms.
When is Dry January 2027?
| Starts | Friday, January 1, 2027 |
| Ends | Sunday, January 31, 2027 |
| Length | 31 days, including 5 full weekends |
| First test | The New Year's Day weekend (Jan 1–3) |
Starting on a Friday is the hard part: day one is a holiday and days two and three are a weekend. Plan those three days before New Year's Eve.
The rules
- No alcohol for 31 days. That's the whole thing.
- Non-alcoholic drinks are fine. NA beer, NA wine, mocktails, kava, kratom elixirs and kanna all count as dry.
- "Damp January" is a thing too. If 31 days feels like too much, some people pick a number of dry days or cut back instead. A plan you finish beats one you drop on the 6th.
- A slip doesn't end it. Have a drink on the 12th? Pick it back up on the 13th. The month still counts.
How to get ready in December
- Pick your reason. Write it down somewhere you'll see it. It's what you'll fall back on at a party on January 9th.
- Find your drinking moments. After work, Friday nights, dinners out, the game. Those are the slots you need to fill.
- Choose a replacement for each. Something you actually look forward to, not plain water. Dry January drink alternatives matches a drink to each moment.
- Stock up before New Year's Eve. If the fridge already has the swap in it, the old habit is the harder option.
- Tell a few people. Friends ask fewer questions when they already know, and one might join you.
The nights that trip people up
- The first weekend. New Year's Day, then Saturday and Sunday. Have plans and drinks lined up.
- Friday nights. The end-of-week drink is the strongest habit for most people. Give it a ritual: a favorite glass, ice, a can you only open on Fridays.
- Bars and restaurants. Decide your order before you walk in. What to order at a bar has ideas.
- Football weekends. NFL playoff games run through most of January, and a game without a beer is a new feeling. Keep a cold swap within reach.
What to drink during Dry January
The months that stick are the ones where you replace the drink instead of just removing it. Kava is the closest thing to the after-work beer, red kratom elixirs fit slow evenings, and kanna is the social one for parties. Botanical Brewing Co.'s Kava Variety 12-Pack and Elixir Variety 12-Pack let you try every flavor before the month starts.
Kava doesn't mix with alcohol, so it's a swap for the month, not something to add to a drink. Not sure which can fits your evenings? The 60-second drink finder picks one for you.
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.
Related: Dry January drink alternatives · Sober curious drinks · How to drink less alcohol · Alcohol alternatives that give you a buzz