Dry January Survival Guide: Go Out Without Drinking
How do I go out during Dry January without drinking?
Pick the venue yourself, and pick one with a real NA menu. The nights that break a Dry January are the ones where the only options are water or soda. At a bar with NA beer on tap or a zero-proof cocktail list, not drinking takes zero willpower.
Tracker apps like Try Dry and Reframe are great for counting days. Finding where to actually go is the other half, and that is what a NA drink finder does: ChillMaps shows every bar near you with real non-alcoholic options.
The venue is the strategy
Willpower research and every Dry January retrospective agree: environment beats intention. If you are holding a drink you like, nobody asks questions and you stop thinking about it. If you are nursing tap water at a dive with nothing NA, the month gets long.
So flip the default. Instead of following the group to whatever bar and hoping, suggest the spot yourself. You know which nearby bars pour Athletic on draft or shake a real zero-proof cocktail, because you checked the map first. Everyone else just sees a good bar.
A simple playbook for the month
A few habits carry most people through January without a slip, and without becoming a hermit.
- Build your list on January 1: save five nearby bars with strong NA menus so you always have an answer to "where should we go".
- Order first: get your NA beer or mocktail in hand before the table orders a round.
- Keep a full glass: a drink that looks like a drink stops the questions before they start.
- Stock home base: grab NA options for your fridge so the couch nights are covered too.
- Track your streak in a habit app, and celebrate with a nice zero-proof bottle at the end.
Build your Dry January map with the app
Ten minutes of setup on January 1 makes the whole month easy.
- 1
Get the free app
Download NA Beer & More: ChillMaps on iPhone or Android, or use the web app at chillmaps.com. The free version shows you nearby results instantly, no account needed.
- 2
Scan your neighborhood
Search your area and see every bar, restaurant, and store with tracked NA options. The density surprises most people.
- 3
Save your five go-to venues
Favorite the bars with the best NA menus. When friends ask where to meet, you have the answer ready.
- 4
Check menus before every night out
Headed somewhere new? Open the venue in the app first and know your order before you walk in.
- 5
Stay stocked at home
Filter to Stores to find the best NA selection nearby, and get alerts when new drinks arrive during the month.
Or use the web app right in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What can I order at a bar during Dry January?
NA beer, zero-proof cocktails, hop water, and NA wine are all standard at bars now. Craft beer bars almost always have at least one NA beer, and cocktail bars increasingly mirror their signatures as mocktails.
What is the best Dry January app?
Use two: a tracker like Try Dry or Reframe to count days and savings, and a finder like ChillMaps to know where to go. Trackers handle the streak, ChillMaps handles the nights out.
How do I handle friends who pressure me to drink?
Hold a drink that looks like a drink. An NA beer or a mocktail in a cocktail glass ends the conversation before it starts. Most people never notice, and the ones who do are usually curious, not judgmental.
Does Dry January actually do anything?
Studies on Dry January participants consistently report better sleep, more energy, and money saved, and many people keep drinking less afterward. The month is easier when going out stays on the table, so plan venues, not isolation.
Find your next NA drink in seconds
Over 1 million bars, restaurants, and stores with non-alcoholic drinks, in your pocket. Free on iPhone and Android.
