We are going to explore the history of Dry January. You may be surprised how far back it goes. We’ll also get you up to date on the globally exploding trend in non-alcohol beverages and hook you up with a helpful quiz that may help you determine whether taking a booze break may be a good idea.

 Dry January as it is known today, started in the U.K in 2013 by a group called Alcohol Change U.K. It was based around setting fresh expectations in a new year, including taking a temporary break from the consumption of alcohol.

As it turns out, this was not an entirely original concept. The country of Finland founded its own ‘Sober January’ in 1942 to help in the war against Russia. One assumes that a sober soldier was a better bet.

Since the 2013 founding of ‘Dry January’, the planet has changed significantly in numerous ways, including a major shift away from alcohol consumption, which took a serious upswing following the Covid pandemic. During the pandemic itself, alcohol sales actually increased as people were literally stuck at home, and in many of those homes, taking their misery and isolation out on a bottle of something boozy.

Since 2022 however, the non-alcohol surge has been swift and very global from non-alcohol beers, to mocktails and spirits such as whisky and gin, sans alcohol.

A rather inventive group of sommeliers in Kelowna, B.C, recently celebrated the first anniversary of a company called SommZero. They are curating non alcohol product selections from around the world and distributing those products Canada wide, and soon beyond.

They have also quickly become recognized as experts in their field. One of the partners, Sommelier, Alex Viol, has been chosen as a judge for the 2025 World Alcohol Free Awards in London, England. To learn more, check out their website at www.sommzero.com . At that site you’ll also find a blog tab. Go there to find a podcast that provides a more conversational background about the founders and their vision.

One of the factors that may be fueling the sweeping move to non-alcohol beverages is the recently released research which addresses the increased risk of cancer from even moderate consumption of alcohol.

As that information became mainstream media news, the British Columbia Ministry of Health decided to create a website featuring a Quiz that interested citizens could take, that would help them better understand their risks based on their own real consumption levels. The quiz is confidential, no email required, no personal information is taken. It offers a sobering glimpse into what may come from risky choices.

Find the Quiz at www.the-proof.ca. It may help you decide if Dry January is worthy of your consideration.

Does alcohol play a significant role in Canadian ‘lost productivity’ statistics? We were curious in the process of working on this article and decided to dig into information available from Canadian government sources. Data from 2023, the most recent available, says that 48.1 billion dollars was the total of lost productivity due to addictions and related issues.

It somewhat surprised us that alcohol’s share of that lost productivity in Canada was 19.7 Billion dollars in 2023, or 40% of the total damage related to substance abuse. That is enough to make one seriously contemplate the non-alcohol trend.

Two of the popular and rapidly growing brands across Canada in the non-alcohol beverage category, are Clever Mocktails and Sober Carpenter.

Recently the people at Clever shared with us the following tip which seems appropriate when pondering Dry January; “By either quitting or reducing alcohol intake, you’ll find it easier to achieve more restful sleep, and your anxiety levels will decrease. The benefits of quitting alcohol are numerous – your mood will be more stable, digestion is easier, recovery after physical activities is faster, and your calorie intake is reduced”. Makes sense, even if you simply view it as a next step to a healthier lifestyle in 2025.

Look for Clever Mocktails and the Sober Carpenter line of craft beers, along with other non-alcohol options at Nutters Everyday Naturals. Selection will vary by location.