Editor's note: We took a few days off for the holidays, so today's newsletter is  abbreviated. We'll see you back here with our regular newsletter tomorrow. We hope you had a fabulous holiday season!

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Good morning, I’m Allie Volpe, a senior reporter for Vox’s Even Better, where I report on a multitude of topics, all with the goal of helping readers live better lives.

 
Today, we’re launching Even Better's Guide to Drinking Less, a new five-part newsletter series just in time for Dry January, the annual monthlong break from alcohol that’s growing in popularity with people around the world. 

Whether you just want to complete a successful Dry January or you’re hoping to reevaluate your relationship to alcohol for the long term, I’m bringing expert-approved tips and tricks, related reading, and even zero-proof cocktail recipes to your inbox once a week to not only help you reach your goal, but enjoy the process, too.  

This morning, the Today, Explained newsletter is giving readers a peek at what you’ll get if you sign up here. 

Because alcohol increases the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, it can also make a good time feel even better. Research has found that moderate drinking in a social setting enhances positive emotion and social bonding by increasing the amount of time people talk to each other. But those who find the pleasurable effects of alcohol most rewarding are more likely to develop alcohol abuse disorder, according to a study. 

Americans’ relationship with alcohol, however, is rapidly evolving. Fewer young adults are drinking than in decades’ past, and a burgeoning “mindful drinking” movement encourages drinkers to indulge intentionally and only to enhance certain experiences. In lieu of alcohol, some are turning to cannabis, psilocybin, and LSD, helping to coin the term “California sober.” 

Dry January has only been around since 2011, but it’s become a worldwide phenomenon; last year, 21 percent of American adults — which amounts to more than 50 million people — said they planned to participate. 

There are plenty of reasons to take the challenge: Limiting your alcohol intake for even a single month has profound effects on the body. Dry January participants often reported improved sleep and weight loss during the challenge, according to one study. Moderate-to-heavy drinkers who abstained from alcohol for a month had improved insulin resistance, weight, blood pressure, and cancer-related growth factors by the end of four weeks, according to separate research.

I’ve spent weeks talking with experts from across the country about why we reach for a drink in times of stress and how to have enjoyable social experiences without alcohol. If you’re considering trying Dry January — or even making a more permanent change — here are just a few things they suggest to get started: 

Enlist a friend or two to join you. One study found that moderate drinkers were 40 percent more likely to consume more if they were around heavy drinkers and 18 percent more likely to not drink if they were influenced by non-drinkers. 

Dry January is a perfect time to experiment with varying your social activities. Instead of defaulting to a bar, what social environment could you create that is equally exciting for drinkers and non-drinkers alike? Maybe that’s an intense game night or a movie marathon; perhaps it’s cooking an elaborate meal with friends or taking a multi-week art class.

Make plans that don’t center around alcohol. Pick a date and initiate just such a plan with a friend or two.

The growing non-alcoholic beverage market makes swapping a boozy beverage for a zero-proof one even easier. Ruby Warrington, author of Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Deep Connection, and Limitless Presence Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol, is a fan of Heineken's and Corona’s alcohol-free beers, while Lagunitas makes a tasty hoppy water. One of the most popular brands of non-alcoholic beer, Athletic Brewing, offers a number of different kinds. Kin Euphorics, Lyre’s, and Ghia fulfill the non-alcoholic spirit and aperitif space. Mocktail Club and Recess’s canned mocktails require no mixology experience. 

There’s plenty more advice and conversation in Even Better’s Guide to Drinking Less if you want to join Vox readers on the Dry January journey! Look out for our emails with challenges that are both actionable and reflective. Each week will focus on a different aspect of drinking to unpack your motivations and create new habits. You’ve got this — and I’ll be right there with you.

Finally, I want to hear from you. Why are you thinking about embarking on a Dry January challenge? What obstacles or hiccups do you anticipate? What questions do you have? E-mail me at allie.volpe@vox.com. 

Are you enjoying the Today, Explained newsletter? Forward it to a friend; they can sign up for it right here. 

And as always, we want to know what you think. Specifically: If there is a topic you want us to explain or a story you’re curious to learn more about, let us know by filling out this form or just replying to this email. 

Today’s edition was produced and edited by senior editor Lavanya Ramanathan. We'll see you tomorrow!

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