Are Non-Alcoholic Beer, Wine, or Spirits the Least Depressing Dry January Choice?

"I love pretty much everything about alcohol: The flavors, the conviviality, the global subcultures it fosters, and its power to blast the synapses of the human nervous system in such a way that it makes us feel warm and full of cheer even in a time when the world is melting down around us. That said, there are a few things about alcohol I don't particularly celebrate with a similar ardor."

"Last year, I found I rather liked Dry January, the unexpected legacy of a British woman who first gave up drinking for a month in January of 2011 as part of her training for a half-marathon. She couldn't have known at the time that her own little personal challenge would grow into a massively popular tiptoe into modern teetotaling, one that potentially up to a quarter of all Americans now engage with,"

Alcohol delivers sensory pleasure, social connection, global subcultures, and powerful neurochemical effects that create warmth and cheer even amid societal stress. Drawbacks include hangovers and a range of negative health associations, yet those concerns do not necessarily deter continued consumption. Participation in Dry January has grown since 2011 and may involve up to a quarter of Americans, although self-reports can overstate participation. A month without drinking can provide a liver break, prompt reevaluation of drinking habits, and increase appreciation for alcohol when resumed. Improved quality of non-alcoholic beers, wines, and spirits in recent years makes temporary abstinence more interesting and accessible.

Read at Jezebel