What is Dry January?
Millions of Americans choose to start the year off without drinking alcohol for the month. The holiday season brings plenty of parties, events, and other social gatherings that make it easy lose track of how many drinks we’ve consumed. Many people use January as a way to begin the year with a physical and mental reset! The effort originated in the U.K. in 2013 as a way to raise awareness of alcohol abuse and treatment; it gained steamed during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in America.
Partaking in #DryJanuary? You can find plenty of alcohol-free alternatives in downtown Chapel Hill!
Boro Beverage (now Boro Bodega) has plenty of non-alcoholic options from kombuchas to artisanal beverages to non-alcoholic beer. Try this NA Aperol Spritz recipe by founder of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Foodies, Carrie Brogen! The drink includes Grüvi Alc-Free Bevs Dry Secco and Wilfred’s Aperitif, both available at Boro.
-2 ounces Wilfred’s Bitter Orange & Rosemary Aperitif
-3 ounces Dry Secco
-splash of club soda
-garnish with a slice of orange or grapefruit
Instructions: add a handful of ice to a large wine glass and then add the Dry Secco. Add the Wilfred’s, top with club soda, and garnish with a slice of orange or grapefruit.
Lantern has a have spirit-free menu. The Gathering Place also has non-alcoholic options such as local root beers, coffee, and kombucha. Perennial Coffee has mocktails on the menu; try a “No-Groni” (Ardi cold brew coffee, herbal tisanne blend, bitters) or a Sweetbitter Bloom ((cranberry-ginger shrub, chamomile, honey, tonic)! The Dead Mule Club has numerous canned options, including Heineken Zero 0.0 NA Beer, Sam Adams Just the Haze, and Sam Adams Just the Haze (pictured below), as well as a spirit-free menu.
The Grounds, located at 425 W. Franklin St. inside The Pitch, has a menu filled with their signature “chillers”, refreshers, and Lotus Energy beverages. Try a Blue Moon Non-alcoholic Belgian White at Goodfellows (pictured below)! It’s crisp and light with a bit more orange than their classic wheat brew.
Gizmo Brew Works sells canned mocktails, Devil’s Foot Sparkling NA Lemonade, and Untitled Art NA Beer (pictured below).
In addition to mocktails and spirit-free drinks, there are plenty of coffee and teas houses to explore in downtown Chapel Hill. So whether you’re in the mood for espresso, oolong, soda, or matcha, we’ve got you covered! Try a Craft Limeade (Brazilian-style limeade with condensed milk and no caffeine), a wintermelon milk tea (Black milk tea with winter melon syrup), or a matcha at Tea Hill!
You can also find Boro’s komucha at Rougarou/Imbibe; the cajun spot also serves up NA mixers sold by the liter, Athletic Brewing NA Beer, and Saranac Shirley Temples and Ginger Beer.
What about “Damp” January?
If you’re not sure that Dry January is right for you, try Damp January! Damp January means decreasing your alcohol intake without completely abstaining. You can either alternate between non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages, reducing the number of drinks, and/or drinking low-alcohol options. Many people find this model more sustainable in the long run, which leads to healthier drinking habits past January.
