Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
Sign In
  • 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
    • ESSENCE 55
    • 2025 Black Music Month
    • 2024 Sexiest Men Of the Moment
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2024 ESSENCE FASHION HOUSE
    • SSENSE X ESSENCE
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • 2025 Best In Beauty Awards
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • In The Chair
    • Couple-Care
    • Product Of The Week
    • Makeup Her Story
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • 2025 Travel Awards
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • 2024 Power 40
    • Money & Career
    • SOKO MRKT
  • News
    • State of the People 
    • 2025 Black Futures
    • Latest News
    • 2024 HBCU X ESSENCE
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
    • 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2025 Hollywood House
    • 2025 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2024 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2024 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 Wellness House
  • Subscribe
    • Magazine
    • Newsletter
Home • Lifestyle

Dry, Damp, Or Drowning? Here's Everything You Need To Know About Sobriety In January

Many Americans have prioritized limiting their drinking in 2025, but what were the popular terms surrounding sobriety?
Dry, Damp, Or Drowning? Here's Everything You Need To Know About Sobriety In January
Getty
By Dominique Fluker · Updated January 31, 2025
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Dry January is a tradition for those who aim to improve their health for the new year, and people willing to participate in the month-long no-alcohol challenge find themselves enjoying the opportunity to reset, especially after months and weeks of overindulging in holiday drinking. 

Although it’s beneficial to ween yourself off of wine, spirits, and beer, that doesn’t mean it’s not difficult to do so; that’s when mocktails come in handy. However, even with the option of mocktails, Americans still love to drink despite the high risk of cancer. According to a Gallup poll, almost 60% opt for alcoholic beverages, while only 45% believe that having one or two drinks per day is bad for their health. 

Article continues after video.
WATCH: Ear To The Streets | Dry January
Jazzolina hits the streets to see if people are consuming alcohol this month? or are they sober? Take a look and find out.
0 seconds of 1 minute, 28 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Shortcuts Open/Close/ or ?
Play/PauseSPACE
Increase Volume↑
Decrease Volume↓
Seek Forward→
Seek Backward←
Captions On/Offc
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf
Mute/Unmutem
Decrease Caption Size-
Increase Caption Size+ or =
Seek %0-9
Copied
Live
00:00
01:28
01:28
 

So, as a solution to not completely cutting out alcohol for the entire month, drinkers are participating in Damp January, which is also popularized on TikTok. Damp January, compared to Dry January represents a softer approach to limiting alcohol assumption – as the resolution is to reduce alcohol consumption versus abstaining totally.  See the benefits of Damp January and ways to participate, below. 

Damp January Benefits

Improved Wellness: Damp January can help improve sleep, fitness stamina, emotional well being, and mental health, ultimately reducing cancer risk.  

Consistency: Damp January can be more doable compared to Dry January, especially if people need time and patience easing into not consuming alcohol. 

Article continues after video.

Boundaries: Participating in Damp January can allow you to create healthy boundaries with yourself, ulitmately allowing for more trust and commitment to your health. 

Here’s How To Participate: 

0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Shortcuts Open/Close/ or ?
Play/PauseSPACE
Increase Volume↑
Decrease Volume↓
Seek Forward→
Seek Backward←
Captions On/Offc
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf
Mute/Unmutem
Decrease Caption Size-
Increase Caption Size+ or =
Seek %0-9
Copied
Live
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Determine an outcome: What do you want to receive from participating in Damp Janaury? Health? A clearer mind? Be sure to make achievable goals that also reflect your needs and desires. 

Limit drinking: Consider limit your drinking to certain days out of the week, or to only the weekend, or just when you’re out at social events. 

Drink less: Drinking smaller amounts of alcohol can be helpful. 

Find community: Share your goals with your loved ones, so they can support you in helping you stay on track. 

TOPICS:  drinking alcohol Dry January sober

Read More

Want Business Coaching From A Super Bowl Champion? Here’s How To Land A Spot At Verizon’s Entrepreneur Bootcamp
Money & Career
Want Business Coaching From A Super Bowl Champion? Here’s ...
Chic Suits For Summer Are In, According To Cynthia Bailey
Fashion
Chic Suits For Summer Are In, According To Cynthia Bailey
Sterling K. Brown And Ernest Kingsley Jr. Highlight The Power Of Possibility In ‘Washington Black’
Entertainment
Sterling K. Brown And Ernest Kingsley Jr. Highlight The Powe...
The Quiet Grief Of Outgrowing Your Parents
Lifestyle
The Quiet Grief Of Outgrowing Your Parents
Packing Light Is a Scam: Here’s 5 Must-Have Pieces To Overpack Without Regret
Shop
Packing Light Is a Scam: Here’s 5 Must-Have Pieces To Over...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Print & Digital App
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE Festival of Culture

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2024 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms | Accessibility Statement

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now
  • 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
    • ESSENCE 55
    • 2025 Black Music Month
    • 2024 Sexiest Men Of the Moment
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2024 ESSENCE FASHION HOUSE
    • SSENSE X ESSENCE
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • 2025 Best In Beauty Awards
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • In The Chair
    • Couple-Care
    • Product Of The Week
    • Makeup Her Story
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • 2025 Travel Awards
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • 2024 Power 40
    • Money & Career
    • SOKO MRKT
  • News
    • State of the People 
    • 2025 Black Futures
    • Latest News
    • 2024 HBCU X ESSENCE
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
    • 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2025 Hollywood House
    • 2025 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2024 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2024 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 Wellness House
  • Subscribe
    • Magazine
    • Newsletter
  • Entertainment
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If not for my Girls
    • The State of R&B
  • Black Women In
    • Girls United Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2025 Best in Beauty Awards
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Style
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health and Wellness
    • Travel
    • Food and Drink
  • Culture
    • 2023 BEST IN BLACK FASHION AWARDS
    • 2024 ESSENCE FASHION HOUSE
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Business
    • Power 40
  • Festival
    • Latest News
    • Paint the Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
    • MAGAZINE
    • NEWSLETTER
  • Search
  • Login
  • Subscribe
    • Magazine
    • Newsletter
  • Search