Our 2025 Take on Dry January

We understand why others are intimidated: attending parties and going out to dinners (not to mention hosting) can feel difficult when you’re accustomed to enjoying them with a drink in hand. That’s why we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite resources for enjoying the month–and yes, we mean truly enjoying it–without any alcohol.

There are a lot of fancy mocktail brands out there (and we happen to love them), from Figlia to to Kin Euphorics to Ghia and well beyond, but the reality is: you don’t need to spend a ton to enjoy an alcohol-free month.

We interviewed the founder of RoseWater Cocktail Co. to get all of her tips and trips for making a perfect mocktail. Here are the recipes, but it all comes down to one thing: simple syrup. Making a batch of infused simple syrup is the easiest way to spice up any seltzer: just pick your favorite enhancement, be it mint, basil, lavender or something else entirely, grab a twist of your preferred citrus (lemon and lime, sure; but meyer lemon and grapefruit shouldn’t be overlooked, either), and pour it in with your favorite seltzer. It costs a lot less than a mocktail, but we find it equally satisfying.

Who says our Anything-But-Basic Holiday Parties need to be restricted to December alone? Sure, you won’t be hosting a Christmukkah party, but as far as festive, non-alcohol-focused parties go; cookie parties, clothing exchanges, and group workouts are all ideal ways to connect with friends, without booze.

As we’ve acknowledged: abstaining from alcohol can be difficult. But if you focus on all of the amazing potential benefits, the month can be seriously transformative. Why not lean into your sober curiosity by prioritizing getting a good night’s sleep? And what if you amped up your natural energy even further, by leaning into healthy habits, like Jen Udashkin? Take advantage of the clearer skin that can come from staying alcohol-free–and amp it up even further, by swapping out your warm-weather skincare for some winter-appropriate products. Lean into the lack of hangovers by getting lost in one of our favorite novels. And whenever it gets difficult, revisit our tips for beating the winter blues and taking care of your mental health.