, Columnist
The Dry January Experiment Is Working
More Americans are passing up alcohol — and comfortable doing so.
Photographer: Spencer Platt/Getty Images North AmericaAs New Year’s Eve approached, I found myself mulling over something that in all my previous adult years would have been unthinkable: What if I didn’t drink? Sure, I had a lovely bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge. But I’d already planned on having Dry(ish) January. Wouldn’t it be great to wake up in 2026 fully rested and with a clear head?
My internal dialogue mirrors the growing number of Americans leaning into moderation. After everyone went a little overboard during the pandemic, more people in the US are reassessing their drinking habits — or, especially among younger generations, eschewing alcohol altogether.