Dry January 2027

When does Dry January 2027 start

Dry January 2027 starts on Friday, January 1, 2027 and ends on Sunday, January 31, 2027. That makes 31 alcohol-free days, beginning on New Year's Day, so New Year's Eve is the last evening before it begins.

You can start late. If you miss January 1, begin on any day and finish with the month, or count 31 days from your own start date. Mark the start, the finish and any events you need to plan around on a printable January calendar, and follow the countdown to January 1.

What is Dry January

Dry January is a public health campaign that challenges people to go alcohol-free for the month of January. It is run by Alcohol Change UK, a charity in the United Kingdom. The first official campaign took place in January 2013 under Alcohol Concern, one of the two charities that later merged to form Alcohol Change UK.

The idea has spread well beyond the UK, and people in the US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere now take part, often informally. Beyond the month itself, the campaign encourages people to think about how they drink for the rest of the year. It is one of several month-long January observances; see January national days for others.

How Dry January works

1. Set the rule: no alcohol from January 1 to January 31.
2. Sign up through Alcohol Change UK's official campaign to receive supportive emails during the month, or run the challenge on your own.
3. Download Try Dry, the official Dry January app from Alcohol Change UK, to log your alcohol-free days and set goals.
4. Tell friends, family or housemates so they know what you are doing and can support you.
5. Clear alcohol out of the house, or put it out of sight.
6. Mark each alcohol-free day on a calendar or tracker.

Talk to a doctor first if you drink heavily

If you drink heavily or every day, talk to a doctor before you stop. People who are physically dependent on alcohol can develop withdrawal symptoms when they stop suddenly, and alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, including seizures. A doctor can advise on a safe way to cut down or stop, which may include medical support.

Signs of dependence include shaking, sweating or feeling anxious when you go without a drink, or needing a drink in the morning. In the US, the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offers free, confidential treatment referrals 24 hours a day. In the UK, speak to your GP. In an emergency, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK.

Dry January tips

Plan for social events

• Check January for birthdays, work events and weekends away, and decide in advance what you will drink.
• Order an alcohol-free drink as soon as you arrive, so you have a glass in hand.
• Have a short answer ready, such as 'I'm doing Dry January.'
• Offer to drive, which gives you a simple reason to skip alcohol.
• Suggest plans that don't center on drinking, such as a meal, a film or a morning walk.

Stock alcohol-free alternatives

Keep drinks you enjoy at home: alcohol-free beer, wine or spirits, sparkling water with citrus, ginger beer, herbal tea or a simple mocktail. Check labels, because some drinks sold as non-alcoholic still contain a small amount of alcohol.

Change the routine

Drinking is often tied to a time or place, such as the end of the workday or Friday night. Replace that moment with something else: a walk, a workout, cooking, a film or an early night.

Track the savings

Estimate what you usually spend on alcohol in a month and set that money aside as the days go by. Seeing the total on January 31 is a concrete result to look back on.

Free printable Dry January tracker

The printable tracker covers all 31 days of January. Cross off each alcohol-free day as you go and keep it somewhere you will see it daily, such as the fridge or your desk.

Adding a short note on cravings, triggers or money saved, on the sheet or in a notebook, shows patterns by the end of the month. The tracker works alongside the Try Dry app or a wall calendar.

Damp January and what to do if you slip

Damp January

Damp January is an informal variation for people who want to cut down rather than stop completely. Common approaches include drinking only on weekends, setting a weekly limit or choosing a number of alcohol-free days each week. There are no fixed rules, so write yours down at the start.

If you slip

One drink does not end the month. Note what led to it, such as a particular event, person or time of day, and plan a different response for next time. Then carry on the next day; the alcohol-free days you have already completed still count.

If you find it hard to go more than a few days without drinking, that is worth raising with a doctor.

Related

• National days
• January holidays
• New Year's Day
• Printable calendars
• Countdown
• January 2027 calendar