It is Friday night and a feeling of excitement fills the air. Classes are finished for the week and students are headed to Court Street with friends. However, instead of drinking the night away, some are committed to staying sober for the evening.
With 2025 underway, resolutions were created and Athens locals and students are ready to start the year off strong. Along with traditional resolutions such as exercising and clean eating, the 30-day-alcohol-free challenge called Dry January has taken the world by storm.
According to Harvard Health, Dry January began in 2012 as a “public health initiative” from the British charity Alcohol Change UK. Today millions participate in the challenge and scholars have discussed Dry January’s benefits on both mental and physical health.
Harvard Health states frequent drinkers who committed to Dry January in previous years showed an improvement in sleep, energy and weight goals. In addition, studies show a decrease in blood pressure, cholesterol levels and “cancer-related proteins.”
Besides the initiative’s physical benefits, Dry January encourages people to develop a positive mentality and end unhealthy habits. Cleveland Clinic experts discussed how taking a break from drinking, especially after holiday celebrations, can make people reexamine their relationship with alcohol.
Lainey Dunn, a senior studying applied nutrition, shares a similar viewpoint and said although she is not partaking, she recognizes Dry January invites participants to explore their lifestyles and make necessary changes.
“It will reveal a lot of stuff that you may have not known about yourself,” Dunn said. “Even socially, it can prove that you are having some social anxiety and you have been relying on alcohol as kind of a crutch.”
With the challenge gaining popularity on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and the Try Dry app, Alcohol Change UK strives to “reduce alcohol harm” by providing access to trustworthy resources for those looking to lead a sober lifestyle.
Kayla Folden, an undecided sophomore, said she feels there is a pressure to drink, especially in the college atmosphere, but encourages students who prefer to stay sober to branch out and find alternative activities.
“I feel like it has become really expected of people to drink and you cannot have fun unless you drink,” Folden said. “I feel like Dry January is a good opportunity for people to try things without drinking.”
Sober lifestyles are not entirely uncommon in the college environment and some students choose to make Dry January a yearlong commitment. Julia Zinnbauer, a sophomore studying music production, said cutting out alcohol has improved her confidence in group settings.
“I want to be able to be in a social situation and talk to someone I do not know … or ask for someone’s number … without the help of anything else,” Zinnbauer said.
Zinnbauer believes college is the perfect time to try new things and Dry January can serve as a reset for the semester.
“This is all like a bunch of trial periods crammed into four years,” Zinnbauer said. “If you see something that is beneficial or could be potentially beneficial in your life, I say go for it.”
Whether a local resident or student commits to the challenge for their physical health or is looking to build confidence in public atmospheres, finding the motivation behind resolutions is an important step to maintaining them.
“If you are doing Dry January to help with your body health or mental health then keep that reasoning in your head,” Zinnbauer said. “Dry January is not for everyone, but if you do start it and if you do have the motivation to do it, then you have a reason.”