OT: Dry January

[Plum Street]

No, this is not a weather thread . Dry January means alcohol free for the month . It’s definitely a hot topic on social media .
Anyone doing this ?
I would say I am a social /moderate drinker. Every January I try to clean up my diet , get a little healthier after the holidays. Never did the “dry January” thing until now .
Not a lot of stuff on the social calendar either so it’s a good time of year for me to do it. I would never be able to do it in the summer or fall lol
I did miss having a a couple of cold ones during the CFP semifinals , but I survived !
It’s also very difficult watching our lousy basketball team without some alcohol 😆

 

[newell138]

Moderation is the key with anything. No point in going dry for a month if your going to be boozing it up the other 11

 

[goru1869]

My life has gotten drier in recent months. I think I have had only 3 beers since October 19. Not missing it much, more money in the pocket and healthier.

 

[Plum Street]

Moderation is the key with anything. No point in going dry for a month if your going to be boozing it up the other 11

Definitely agree moderation is key .
All those days off from alcohol will help the liver heal and improve its function for many.
I would say there is a benefit even if one plans to booze it up after a long period of being dry

 

[e5fdny]

No.

But to clarify…it might be just one beer for the whole month or nothing at all.

 

[Rhuarc]

I never drank and was always the monitor and DD for my friends. I never understood how people could blow so much money at bars and at sporting events on alcohol. It's quite a racket.

 

[WhiteBus]

I normally do a dry February starting after the Superbowl so about 3 weeks. However, last Sunday night I realized I had caught the stomach flu thing. So I started it during the days of recovery. Food and drinks are not appealing still.
Anyway taking a break is a wise, healthy choice. After a week you start feeling a noticable difference and by the end most people lose weight, sleep better and look better.

I don't drink any non-alcohol "beers" however non-alcohol beers have improved dramatically in the last 5 years. New technology to remove alcohol especially by vacuum evaporation and filtration. So forget about O'Doul's and try anything from Athletic Brewery (leading the market by far in the East Coast ) or try two 0.0 entries that are raved about. Both Guinness and Heineken are the top of that category.
Non alcohol beer have grown at a rapid rate since the pandemic!

 

[Knight Shift]

I never drank and was always the monitor and DD for my friends. I never understood how people could blow so much money at bars and at sporting events on alcohol. It's quite a racket.

Same here after turning 17. Frugality and alcohol abstinence are perfect together.

 

[rutgersdave]

I been trying to cut out any drinking the last couple of years. I’m down to maybe 2-4 drinks a month. There has been a recent flood of articles that mention any type of drinking is bad causing cancer especially as you get older. I started to substitute some drinking with pot.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Asked my local liquor store friend why the lot is so empty lately. He said Dry-January. Growing up I worked in bars and liquor stores for like 10 years. Never heard of it.
Clearly I am not participating.

 

[WhiteBus]

Asked my local liquor store friend why the lot is so empty lately. He said Dry-January. Growing up I worked in bars and liquor stores for like 10 years. Never heard of it.
Clearly I am not participating.

It's been around since 2012 by a woman in England who was training for a half marathon. By the next January it grew to 4000 of registered people and has grown dramatically since worldwide.
Funny that anyone hasn't heard of it especially since the pandemic.

 

[T2Kplus20]

No, this is not a weather thread . Dry January means alcohol free for the month . It’s definitely a hot topic on social media .
Anyone doing this ?
I would say I am a social /moderate drinker. Every January I try to clean up my diet , get a little healthier after the holidays. Never did the “dry January” thing until now .
Not a lot of stuff on the social calendar either so it’s a good time of year for me to do it. I would never be able to do it in the summer or fall lol
I did miss having a a couple of cold ones during the CFP semifinals , but I survived !
It’s also very difficult watching our lousy basketball team without some alcohol 😆

The link between alcohol and cancer grows stronger and stronger. A recent study shows that about 100,000 new cases of cancer every year are directly linked to alcohol consumption. Alcohol is slowly but surely becoming the next tobacco.

New Report Highlights Overlooked Cancer Risk Factor: Alcohol

Cancer is becoming a more survivable illness in the U.S., but a lack of awareness about the risks linked to alcohol and unhealthy lifestyle choices could slow this progress.

www.webmd.com

“Unfortunately, awareness about the link between alcohol and cancer is still low, highlighting the need for public messaging campaigns, such as cancer-specific warning labels displayed on alcoholic beverages, along with effective clinical strategies to reduce the burden of alcohol-related cancers,” the report authors wrote.

Recent analyses have revealed flaws in past conclusions that light or moderate alcohol consumption may have heart health benefits. Those studies, scientists say, didn’t adequately account for people who had quit drinking due to health problems. Newer studies are increasingly pointing toward alcohol use as a major cancer risk factor.

Alcohol usage particularly increases the risk for colorectal, liver, stomach, breast, head, neck, and throat cancers. An estimated 1 in 20 cancers in the U.S. were attributed to alcohol use in 2019, the report stated, noting that starting drinking at an early age increases cancer risk later in life.

 

[T2Kplus20]

It's been around since 2012 by a woman in England who was training for a half marathon. By the next January it grew to 4000 of registered people and has grown dramatically since worldwide.
Funny that anyone hasn't heard of it especially since the pandemic.

Always due to women. :)

 

[JCin128]

I don’t do the Dry January thing. However, for the past 30 years or so I have been giving up alcohol for Lent.

 

[e5fdny]

I don't drink any non-alcohol "beers" however non-alcohol beers have improved dramatically in the last 5 years. New technology to remove alcohol especially by vacuum evaporation and filtration. So forget about O'Doul's and try anything from Athletic Brewery (leading the market by far in the East Coast) or try two 0.0 entries that are raved about. Both Guinness and Heineken are the top of that category.
Non-alcohol beers have grown at a rapid rate since the pandemic!

VERY surprised how good that one tastes.

Have also heard good things about the Heineken one but haven't tried it yet.

 

[Source]

I have also asked bar tenders/owners why the drop off in business. Their answer was that everybody has spent their money and drank their fill at the holidays last month. Business picks back up in late February when they have $$$ to spend again.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Same here after turning 17. Frugality and alcohol abstinence are perfect together.

I drank a little when I was younger (early 20s) and friends tried to get me to try this or that but I never liked the taste or could get over the bitterness of it so that was that. I haven’t drank since.

My family in England on the other hand for them it’s a way of life lol. Great social thing for them and they grew up that way too.

I have read among GenZ and maybe millennials to a degree alcohol isn’t so popular and non alcoholic drinks are a growing thing in that demographic.

 

[Plum Street]

I have also asked bar tenders/owners why the drop off in business. Their answer was that everybody has spent their money and drank their fill at the holidays last month. Business picks back up in late February when they have $$$ to spend again.

Yep and then it really gets going in March. St Patrick’s day , March madness. Lots of drinking days in there

 

[Plum Street]

It's been around since 2012 by a woman in England who was training for a half marathon. By the next January it grew to 4000 of registered people and has grown dramatically since worldwide.
Funny that anyone hasn't heard of it especially since the pandemic.

It’s actually a good time of year to do this .
Might be the only time for me lol

If I ever come to a @WhiteBus tailgate and I am served an alcohol free beer , I will feel slighted !! 😆

 

[WhiteBus]

I don’t do the Dry January thing. However, for the past 30 years or so I have been giving up alcohol for Lent.

My father did that for one year. My mom said he could never do it again. He was miserable! 🤣

As many have said alcohol is related to many health issues. My father passed from Alzheimer's and alcohol is double edge sword. Alcohol can damage brain cells and sleep apnea is also linked alcohol use.
If you have sleep apnea. Don't laugh it off as being that person that neighbors can hear you snore. Go see a doctor.

 

[T2Kplus20]

I drank a little when I was younger (early 20s) and friends tried to get me to try this or that but I never liked the taste or could get over the bitterness of it so that was that. I haven’t drank since.

My family in England on the other hand for them it’s a way of life lol. Great social thing for them and they grew up that way too.

I have read among GenZ and maybe millennials to a degree alcohol isn’t so popular and non alcoholic drinks are a growing thing in that demographic.

+1
Short alcoholic beverage stocks! FS Insight recently came out with a research paper on this topic. I will post in the stock thread.

 

[Knight Shift]

I drank a little when I was younger (early 20s) and friends tried to get me to try this or that but I never liked the taste or could get over the bitterness of it so that was that. I haven’t drank since.

My family in England on the other hand for them it’s a way of life lol. Great social thing for them and they grew up that way too.

I have read among GenZ and maybe millennials to a degree alcohol isn’t so popular and non alcoholic drinks are a growing thing in that demographic.

The taste was always repulsive to me, so it was easy to give up. In Europe, it's a way of life starting young, and don't have data, but have heard they have lower rates of alcoholism compared to the US.

 

[rutgersguy1]

+1
Short alcoholic beverage stocks! FS Insight recently came out with a research paper on this topic. I will post in the stock thread.

Well I wouldn’t say that because who do you think will make those non alcoholic drinks or buy up the companies that do lol. BUD or DEO or whomever can do the same thing.

I recently just saw some Tom Holland non alcoholic beer popping up in Target. I don’t know what company might be backing it though. I’m sure you’ll see more things like that backed by celebs.

 

[T2Kplus20]

Well I wouldn’t say that because who do you think will make those non alcoholic drinks or buy up the companies that do lol. BUD or DEO or whomever can do the same thing.

I recently just saw some Tom Holland non alcoholic beer popping up in Target. I don’t know what company might be backing it though. I’m sure you’ll see more things like that backed by celebs.

+1
I haven't read the FS Insights research paper yet, but maybe those non-alcoholic beverages open up additional markets? That would be a driver for future earnings.

 

[ruinac]

In a way I’ve been lucky that my body doesn’t handle alcohol well so I’ve always limited my drinking.

For those who do enjoy it in moderation with a meal you’ll be happy to know that the headlines about cancer risk were out of line with the findings of the study. Go ahead and continue to enjoy your glass of wine with dinner or a beer or drink at your tailigate and cookouts.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2822215#google_vignette

“The excess mortality associated with alcohol consumption was higher in individuals with health-related and socioeconomic risk factors, among whom even low-risk drinkers had higher mortality, especially from cancer. Wine preference and drinking only with meals showed small protective associations with mortality, especially from cancer, among drinkers with health-related and socioeconomic risk factors, and these 2 drinking patterns attenuated the excess mortality associated with high-, moderate-, and even low-risk drinking”

 

[WhiteBus]

It’s actually a good time of year to do this .
Might be the only time for me lol

If I ever come to a @WhiteBus tailgate and I am served an alcohol free beer , I will feel slighted !! 😆

Only the best beer for tailgate.
Honestly, I don't get the non alcohol beer craze. But the way it sells tells me I am in the minority!

 

[rutgersguy1]

Only the best beer for tailgate.
Honestly, I don't get the non alcohol beer craze. But the way it sells tells me I am in the minority!

From what I’ve read, it’s that people (younger crowd specifically) still want the social aspects of drinking but don’t want to have the health issues related to alcohol.

Mind you, I have no clue what goes into non alcoholic drinks.

 

[WhiteBus]

From what I’ve read, it’s that people (younger crowd specifically) still want the social aspects of drinking but don’t want to have the health issues related to alcohol.

Mind you, I have no clue what goes into non alcoholic drinks.

Yes. Younger, legally aged, people are leading the charge and not just for January. Year round.

 

[Plum Street]

Only the best beer for tailgate.
Honestly, I don't get the non alcohol beer craze. But the way it sells tells me I am in the minority!

My thoughts on alcohol free beer can be summed up in that Wolf of Wall Street scene with Dicaprio

 

[Rutgers Chris]

Legal cannabis is definitely cutting into alcohol consumption from my anecdotal observations

 

[newell138]

Legal cannabis is definitely cutting into alcohol consumption from my anecdotal observations

Here too

 

[ashokan]

I got sick of going out to bars and such, and when I stopped drinking out, it just lost appeal overall and I don't drink anything. Apparently Zoomers are on the same path and with CV-19 they never got in the habit of pubbing and they drink a lot less. Of course its expensive and there are the health concerns as well. Beer and keto dont work together. People socialize online more too and dont need pubs.

Gen Z is ditching booze for sober-centric hubs in NYC: ‘Shocked people are in here having fun without alcohol’

Zoomers want a wild night on the town they won’t wake up regretting.

nypost.com

 

[RUBlackout]

Legal cannabis is definitely cutting into alcohol consumption from my anecdotal observations

My kids are nowhere near even thinking about drinking(hope not at least) but heard from several other parents that alcohol is not seen as “cool” these days

 

[T2Kplus20]

Legal cannabis is definitely cutting into alcohol consumption from my anecdotal observations

That's not a good thing for society. Trading something bad for something also bad. Research on weed isn't looking too good either.

 

[vkj91]

+1
Short alcoholic beverage stocks! FS Insight recently came out with a research paper on this topic. I will post in the stock thread.

Silly take. Everyone is talking about this new research. Anybody who thinks alcohol isn’t bad for them is a moron. But we still drink it. And in 15 years new research will say wine is good for you again.

 

[vkj91]

B lack to OP’s question. I did it last year. My wife begged me to Throw in the towel after about 20 days. She enjoys sharing a bottle of wine or discussing our day over a nice cold beer at a pub. Was thinking about doing it again but not off to a good start with playoffs.

 

[DJ Spanky]

I did a dry Tuesday this past week, does that count?

Always due to women. :)

But............don't they drive us to drink?

 

[T2Kplus20]

I did a dry Tuesday this past week, does that count?



But............don't they drive us to drink?

Women = The cause of and solution to all of men's problems! :)

As the late, great Charlie Munger said:
There are only three ways a smart man can go broke: liquor, ladies, and leverage.

 

[fsg2]

Silly take. Everyone is talking about this new research. Anybody who thinks alcohol isn’t bad for them is a moron. But we still drink it. And in 15 years new research will say wine is good for you again.

Yeah, never understand why people jump on the newest study like it's gospel. They'll mock and instantly abandon the thinking of the recent ...as if the latest study is the last definitive statement that will ever be made on the topic.

Not saying anyone was doing that in here, and good for people limiting or ditching alcohol, just an observation from things like diet trends, replacing alcohol with weed, vaping over smoking, and on and on.

Dry January sorta falls into that same box for me. If you're doing it to kick off a healthier lifestyle, excellent. If you're doing it to keep up with trends and just plan to go back to your previously scheduled drinking routine at 12 am on 2/1, it's a silly exercise.

 

[vkj91]

Yeah, never understand why people jump on the newest study like it's gospel. They'll mock and instantly abandon the thinking of the recent ...as if the latest study is the last definitive statement that will ever be made on the topic.

Not saying anyone was doing that in here, and good for people limiting or ditching alcohol, just an observation from things like diet trends, replacing alcohol with weed, vaping over smoking, and on and on.

Dry January sorta falls into that same box for me. If you're doing it to kick off a healthier lifestyle, excellent. If you're doing it to keep up with trends and just plan to go back to your previously scheduled drinking routine at 12 am on 2/1, it's a silly exercise.

I did it for the same reason I give up stuff at lent. Simply to make sure I can live without it.