Going dry is the question

Over the past couple of years going dry for January was my thing, even though I did decide to skip it this year, I’m still fascinated by the concept. It was a challenge I embraced in spite of its presumed difficulty. If pressed to think about the concept logically, how hard can it be to not drink for 31 days?

Well, as I’m sure many of you who have tried and failed, it is quite tough. This made me think about my relationship with drinking in general.

Our world and society are wrapped within the confines of consuming alcohol. It’s at the center of many of our ceremonial events, whether they be New Year’s celebrations or personal gatherings, the joyful union of toasting our fellow friends and family has a lasting bond with fermentation and distillation.

• Did you know?: Dry January began in 2012 as a public health initiative from Alcohol Change UK, a British charity.

I interviewed UBC professor Edward Slingerland 18 months ago on my podcast regarding his new book, Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way To Civilization. In that interview, I wanted to discuss his book’s narrative as it relates to our intense bond with alcohol.

His book paints a fascinating illustration of how drinking helped grow and pave the way for our advancement as a society. Yet, in spite of this realization, it’s with events such as dry January, that we so often look inward at ourselves and how we relate to alcohol personally.

I believe this is a good thing, regardless if you participate or not. The idea and conversation surrounding this topic has its benefits. Ironically, professor Slingerland discussed this very subject recently for The Atlantic. 

Caroline Mimbs Nyce

“In Drunk, you describe many of the positive benefits of alcohol. So I was curious what you make of Dry January, whether you just see it as a check on the negative—or if you had any concerns about it, given the way that alcohol has helped us build civilizations and helped with creativity.”

Edward Slingerland

“I think it’s a quite healthy attempt to check rising consumption. January is the beginning of the year. People have just been through the holiday season, where they’ve been probably drinking quite heavily at parties and family gatherings. So it just makes sense.

During Dry January, if you’re not drinking alcohol, you’re going to lose some of the functional effects. You’re going to lose the creativity boost and social bonding. But it makes sense to endure some costs occasionally if you need to course correct.

For instance, problem drinking during the pandemic became really serious. Once you up your consumption, it’s very, very hard to dial back down. And probably the most effective way to do that is a kind of hard stop for a bit to just let your physiology reset.”

It occurs to me that Professor Slingerland’s comments may suggest that whether you’re in the middle of your dry spell or not, the annual check in is never a bad idea and I mean that more in a mental sense versus physical.

As someone who makes the bulk of my living serving alcohol to guests four days a week, my awareness of the whole sphere, good and bad, concerning alcohol's effects within our own lives is comprehensive. I feel it’s somewhat paramount that we do check in more often.

I champion a person’s free will to choose their own path, but I will always encourage discourse and movement of what “going dry” means, January or not, as I know so many of us do not do this.

I believe what I enjoy the most regarding this silly annual tradition is that it forces everyone to pause and reflect upon their relationship towards alcohol, and how they might continue that journey for this one month or for a lifetime.

In the past few years I’ve seen more and more friends remain dry for good after years of ups and downs with alcohol. To know their stories and see them come through the other end in a positive light leads me to feel a sense of optimism that for all its hokey charm, dry January isn’t such a bad tradition to recognize. So if going dry is the question you find yourself asking now or next year, I think the personal check-in is well worthwhile.

How to support Dry January

If you are up for supporting the “dry January” initiative, and want to champion a good cause, the fine folks up at Tacofino are pouring delicious Nonny beer all month long with $2 from each sale of beer or mocktail going to help the Coast Mental Health Association. 

You can even get Nonny on draft at their Ocho and Gastown locations. I’ve had these beers, they’re really good. Plus Nonny co-owner Lane is a great guy, I interviewed him last year on my podcast. Have a listen if you want to learn more about his brand.