Dry January? Why More Women are Embracing a Damp Lifestyle
Choosing to abstain from alcohol in the months after the holiday season is nothing new – many people participate in Dry January, or go sober for a shorter period of time in February. But more and more women are choosing to reduce their alcohol consumption and embrace a “damp” lifestyle: not quitting entirely, but rethinking the way they consume.
There are a few reasons why we are choosing to reduce our alcohol consumption and opting for more long term changes in habits instead of an all or nothing approach. More than ever, we are realizing how problematic “mommy wine culture” has become. Encouraging moms to imbibe wine in excess after the kids go to bed has lost its appeal as a funny joke and is starting to be viewed as a precursor to deeper problems.
Another reason? Gen Z is being raised to see alcohol as more toxic than generations before them did, similar to the ways our mindsets around cigarettes and smoking shifted over time. TikTok is full of content encouraging the damp lifestyle, mindful habits, and other holistic approaches to mental and physical wellbeing.
Additionally, newly released guidelines from the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse and Addictions recommend consuming no more than two alcoholic drinks per week in order to maintain a low health risk. Some were shocked by this advice, others felt it gave them a wake up call to their own consumption habits.
For some, reducing their alcohol intake may seem difficult, particularly working in industries like hospitality where drinking feels ingrained in the culture. If you are considering embracing a damp lifestyle, or are sober-curious, here are some tips that could help you or others:
You don’t need to cut it all out at once. One of the main aspects of a damp lifestyle is being more thoughtful about your consumption choices. Opt to give up drinking during the week and save your beverage of choice to one or two on the weekend.
Embrace mocktails. More and more restaurants and bars are offering creative mocktails made with unique ingredients that will feel more fun than a soda water with lime.
Enlist the support of your friends and family. Have open conversations about alcohol with those in your life, and offer to support their journeys as well.
Don’t ask why someone isn’t drinking. If you aren’t on a personal level, don’t question why someone isn’t drinking. They might not want to discuss it or they may feel pressured to order an alcoholic drink to fit in.
Encourage social or after-work activities that don’t revolve around alcohol. Consider other fun activities like a trivia night, mini golf, virtual reality, or a fitness class.