Is This The End of Dry January?

by Katerina ↪ 5 min

Jump to:
– Water
– Olipop Cream Soda
– Matcha
– St. Agrestis Phony Negroni
– Wims
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A retro-style illustrated calendar page with a yellow textured background and teal lettering that reads “Is This the End of Dry January?” The word “Dry January” is written in large script across the center, with a full January calendar grid shown below. The calendar is spiral-bound at the top and has a playful, vintage poster design.

Moving from extremes, to moderation throughout the year

Dry January is, traditionally, an exercise in extremes: sudden sobriety for the first 31 days of the year, followed by unchecked indulgence for the remaining 334. A move towards balance, perhaps, but not moderation. But lately, it seems like we as a society of drinkers are craving moderation most of all.

Over the last several decades, researchers and reporters have documented a steady decline in our collective rate of alcohol consumption (in 2025 it was the lowest it’s been in three decades), complemented by an uptick in the popularity of alcohol alternatives. This doesn’t mean everyone’s going sober—according to one statistic, 92% of people who purchase alcohol alternatives also sometimes purchase alcohol. It seems a new cohort of “sober curious” drinkers have emerged, exploring the many middle grounds between full sobriety, and daily drinking.

This growing movement urges people to reconsider their relationship with alcohol, and the role it deserves in their lives. Maybe alcohol shouldn’t be our de facto social lubricant, or the go-to way to soothe the stress of a demanding day. At the same time, maybe popping a delicious bottle of wine with friends is truly one of life’s loveliest pleasures, a ritual well worth keeping. It’s all about examining when alcohol adds value to an experience, and when it takes away. Give it a think, and you might realize some occasions are actually better suited to other kinds of beverages.

Next time you find yourself thirsty, pause for a moment and consider whether you’re looking for a drink that’s functional, experiential, delicious, or some combination of the three. Functional beverages support health and wellness (think probiotic soda, green juice, and so on). Experiential beverages shift your mood and mindset (alcohol belongs to this category, as well as caffeine and cannabis-based drinks). And delicious beverages are, well, delicious. Many, if not most, drinks fall into more than one of these categories. Still, it’s a useful starting point to consider what element you’re craving most.

In the interest of helping you pick the perfect drink for any occasion, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of some of our favorite alcohol alternatives. We hope you’ll enjoy, and find something that’s just right for you.

1. Water

A retro-style illustration with a soft blue textured background showing a clear glass filled with water reflecting light like ocean waves. At the top, the word “Monday” appears in teal, and across the glass is the phrase “Water!” in large, playful script, giving the design a clean, cheerful, vintage poster feel.

A controversial start, we know. Consider this a caring reminder to keep yourself hydrated.

2. Olipop Cream Soda

A retro-style illustrated card with a warm yellow textured background. At the top, the word “Tuesday” appears in teal. In the center is a clear glass filled with a dark, fizzy soda with visible bubbles. Across the glass, the word “Olipop!” is written in bold, playful script, giving the image a vintage, cheerful poster-style look.

All of Olipop’s flavors are delicious—and pack surprisingly powerful flavor, considering the low sugar content and healthy ingredients. But there’s something in particular about the Cream Soda’s mellow, marshmallow flavor that makes it a true classic. Plus, ingredients like cassava root fiber and chicory root make it a welcome choice when your digestive system needs a little extra love.

3. Matcha

retro-style illustrated card with a soft blue textured background. At the top, “Wednesday” is written in teal. In the center is a clear plastic cup with a lid, filled with a pale green matcha drink. The word “Matcha!” appears in large, playful script across the cup, creating a fresh, vintage poster-inspired look.

All caffeinated beverages fall squarely into the “experiential” category, with their energizing, lightly mood altering effects. We love coffee as much as the next person, but the green leaves matcha’s made from also contain a slew of other compounds, like L-theanine, zinc, and antioxidants, that complement its high caffeine content for a smooth, grounded feeling that comes without the jitters.

4. St. Agrestis Phony Negroni

A retro-style illustrated card with a warm yellow textured background. At the top, “Thursday” is written in teal. In the center is a clear rocks glass filled with a red, lightly bubbly drink. Large script text reading “Phony Negroni” overlays the glass, giving the image a playful, vintage cocktail-poster aesthetic.

If you’re craving something that truly tastes like a cocktail, but you can’t risk a headache or hangover tomorrow, this is the choice for you. Layered botanicals are balanced with bitterness and citrus for a smooth dupe that tastes like a classic.

5. Wims

A retro-style illustrated card with a soft blue textured background. At the top, “Friday” appears in teal. In the center is a blue Wims Pocket-Tonic packet shown at a slight angle. Large, playful script reading “Wims!” overlays the image, giving it a fun, vintage poster-inspired feel.

Surprise! We saved the best for last. Unsurprisingly, it’s Wims. If you’re looking for a more noticeably experiential effect than caffeine or adaptogens provide, cannabis offers a delightful alternative buzz. There’s a whole range of canned cannabis cocktails available in the world, but Wims is unique in its ability to mix and mingle with any drink you please—including all the favorites we just introduced you to, all the ones you already love, and all the ones you’ve yet to discover.

When you consider the true breadth of the beverage menu, you can start to understand why your order might not always need to be alcohol. If you’re looking to relax, perhaps a craft soda loaded with adaptogens is the thing that would do your nervous system the most good. If you’re fighting a cold, maybe reach for a green juice. If you want to be really present with your friends, and clear-headed the next morning, cannabis-based beverages might be a better experiential option than alcohol. It all depends what you’re looking for.

As the people move towards more intentional relationships with alcohol, and build sustainable habits that can carry them through the year, it’s easy to imagine why Dry January might become a thing of the past. (Although, just to be clear, we at Wims are all for doing Dry January in whatever way makes sense for you—be it full sobriety, one drink a week, or switching to another kind of substance). Whatever path you’re on, we’re just here to invite you to consider the other options on the menu—in January and beyond.