Should I try Dry January or Damp January?

Dry January is a one-month alcohol abstinence challenge. Many people give up halfway because they’re too used to unwinding with a drink. Damp January lets you cut back on your own terms without going cold turkey. You can skip a drink one night and enjoy a social night with friends the next. Alcohol moderation is more achievable for most people than complete abstinence, but there’s a better option than going dry or damp.

Soberish January and Damp January involve mindful drinking and cutting back rather than eliminating alcohol. But when you're soberish, you're committing to a lifestyle and replacing some alcohol with healthier alternatives that still give you a buzz. Going soberish for a month—or life—is about making changes that last and exploring other ways to enjoy a social buzz that keep you healthy and sharp.

Our THC beverages let you cut back on booze while replacing some of that unhealthy alcohol with cannabis drinks that deliver the same relaxing buzz without the hangover or health damage.

What are the rules for Damp January?

Damp January has no official rules because you create your own boundaries around alcohol consumption. Some people practice only drinking on weekends, limiting themselves to one drink at social events, or skipping their usual weeknight wine. Others set weekly drink limits. Whatever you choose, make your limits sustainable.

Most people replace their usual alcoholic drinks with sparkling water or non-alcoholic alternatives, but these don't deliver the social ease and relaxation that make alcohol appealing. Our Buzz Drops™ give you the buzz you want while supporting your goal to drink less. With 2.5 mg THC and 2.5 mg CBD per dropper, these soberish drops transform any beverage into a relaxing drink without alcohol's negative health effects.

Is Damp January as good as going dry?

Damp January and Soberish January deliver better long-term results than Dry January because they teach sustainable drinking habits. Both moderation approaches work because they address why people drink—social ease, stress relief, and relaxation—while building mindful consumption patterns.

Going completely dry can improve physical health markers, like blood pressure and weight loss, but moderate drinking approaches create gradual, lasting changes that continue beyond January.

Why do people fail at Dry January?

Complete abstinence rarely works because people feel punished and restricted. When you eliminate something without addressing the underlying motivations, you set yourself up for failure. 

Here’s why people find Dry January to be too difficult:

• All-or-nothing mentality creates pressure: When you slip up once, you feel like you've failed and abandon the challenge instead of getting back on track.
• Social isolation increases: Avoiding all alcohol can mean skipping work events, dinner parties, and social gatherings where you'd normally participate, making you feel left out and resentful.
• Stressed mental health: Most people drink for social connection, stress relief, and relaxation. Removing your usual coping mechanism for stress without replacing it with healthier alternatives leaves you struggling with anxiety and emotional well-being.
• No sustainable habits develop: A month of white-knuckling through restriction doesn't teach you how to drink mindfully or make better choices long-term.
• Rebound drinking follows: February often brings binge drinking sessions to make up for feeling deprived, creating worse drinking behavior than before the challenge.

According to Harvard Public Health, only half of the people who say they'll do Dry January plan to abstain completely. The other half just plan to drink less than usual. This reveals that most people naturally gravitate toward moderation rather than elimination.

A 2022 study explains that, while Dry January can work short-term, it doesn't create lasting change for most people, which makes Damp or Soberish January more sustainable and effective after the month ends.

Soberish January beats Dry or Damp

Soberish January creates a lifestyle change instead of a temporary challenge. When you go soberish, you're replacing alcohol with alternatives that deliver a similar social buzz without the health damage. The health benefits of going soberish include better sleep, improved immune function, and weight loss from eliminating empty calories.

The soberish movement solves what Dry and Damp January can't: finding alternatives that work. Non-alcoholic beverages taste fine but don't provide the mood enhancement that makes alcohol appealing—plus they add a lot of extra calories. THC drinks work with your body's endocannabinoid system (ECS) to deliver relaxation and social confidence.

If you suffer from alcohol use disorder, seek professional help before going soberish. But for most people, Soberish January offers the upgrade they've been searching for without the restrictions they've been dreading. 

Our Buzz Packs™ make this transition simple. These flavorless powder packets transform any drink into a relaxing soberish beverage with 5 mg THC and 5 mg CBD per serving.

How to succeed at your soberish challenge

Start with flexible rules that challenge you without setting you up to fail. Here's how to make your soberish challenge work.

• Set specific, achievable limits: Choose "no weeknight drinking" or "two drinks maximum at social events" rather than vague goals like "drink less."
• Replace, don't restrict: Stock up on THC alternatives that deliver genuine relaxation and social confidence. Non-alcoholic beers leave you wanting the buzz that alcohol provides.
• Track your drinking patterns: Pay attention to when you reach for alcohol out of habit versus genuine desire. Most people discover they automatically drink at specific times without actually wanting it.
• Plan for social situations: Have THC beverages ready for parties and dinners so you're not stuck with sparkling water while everyone else enjoys mood-enhancing drinks.
• Control your dose: Our liquid THC drops and cannabis powder packs let you customize your experience. Start with small amounts and adjust based on how you feel.

Apply these flexible rules to any other month when you decide to reduce your drinking, like Soberish October or any time you want to upgrade your relationship with alcohol.

The best nama™ THC drinks for your soberish lifestyle

Replace your usual drinks with cannabis mocktails that deliver the same social buzz without the downsides. Our THC beverages let you enjoy Dry January or Damp January with alternatives that satisfy your cravings for relaxation and social ease.

• Try our blackberry lemon THC drink for sophisticated evening gatherings when you want something special without the hangover. The tart berry flavors create a wine-like experience that fits perfectly into dinner parties or date nights.
• Our ginger pear cannabis mocktail offers warming spices and crisp fruit flavors that work beautifully for cozy winter nights or holiday celebrations. The ginger adds natural energy while THC provides gentle relaxation.
• For summer gatherings, the sage and peach cannabis mocktail combines herbal complexity with sweet stone fruit for a refreshing afternoon drink. This sophisticated blend impresses guests while keeping you clear-headed and present.
• The dirty coke cannabis mocktail upgrades a classic mixer with THC for casual hangouts and game nights. It's familiar enough to satisfy cola cravings but enhanced with cannabis for a better buzz than alcohol provides.

All recipes work with Buzz Drops or Buzz Packs, and you control the strength by adjusting your dose. Both products use hemp-derived cannabinoids, ship free to 48 states, and create gentle euphoria without overwhelming effects. Microdosing cannabis drinks lasts 3–6 hours with no hangover, empty calories, or health risks. 

Order from nama today and upgrade your January challenge with alternatives that work.

Resources

Russell, A. M., Valdez, D., Chiang, S. C., Montemayor, B. N., Barry, A. E., Lin, H. C., & Massey, P. M. (2022). Using Natural Language Processing to Explore "Dry January" Posts on Twitter: Longitudinal Infodemiology Study. Journal of medical Internet research, 24(11), e40160. https://doi.org/10.2196/40160

Mehta, C. (2024, June 5). If Dry January feels, well, dry—try “Damp” January instead. Harvard Public Health Magazine. https://harvardpublichealth.org/policy-practice/if-dry-january-feels-well-dry-try-damp-january-instead/

Further reading

Buzz Drops vs Soberish Drops

How to succeed at a soberish month

How beneficial is going soberish for your gut?

5 ways to reduce alcohol without going sober

Can you get high from drinking cannabis?

Why do THC drinks hit faster than gummies?

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