“Sober Curious”: Rethinking Our Relationship with Alcohol This Dry January (And Beyond)
-By Miryam Yusufov
Each winter, “Dry January” invites a collective pause around alcohol. For some, it’s a personal challenge; for others, it’s simply a curiosity about how their body or mind might feel without drinking for a few weeks. What’s helpful about Dry January is not the rule itself, but the permission to reflect. Rather than asking, “Should I stop drinking?” it opens a gentler question, “What’s my relationship with alcohol right now?”
What’s helpful about Dry January is not the rule
itself, but the permission to reflect.
Rather than asking, “Should I stop drinking?” it
opens a gentler question, “What’s my relationship with alcohol right now?”
We use alcohol on a spectrum
In therapy, I often emphasize that our relationship with alcohol exists on a spectrum; not a binary of “problem drinker” (with escalations to alcohol use disorder) versus “no problem.” Many people drink socially, occasionally, habitually, or situationally, and these patterns can shift across seasons of life. For example, we often see an increase in social drinking during the holiday season.
Of note, research shows that younger generations are drinking less than prior cohorts; with large national surveys such as “Monitoring the Future” and “Gallup” documenting steady declines in alcohol use among adolescents and young adults. This broader cultural shift reflects increasing intentionality around health and wellbeing and challenges the idea that questioning alcohol automatically means something is “wrong”. You don’t need to hit a certain threshold of harm or distress for your drinking to be worth examining.
photo courtesy unsplash
What is “sober-curious?”
Being “sober curious” simply means approaching alcohol with awareness instead of judgment and noticing how it fits (or doesn’t fit) with your values, health, and emotional well-being.
Sober curiosity is not about labels, deprivation, or perfection. It’s about paying attention and exploring:
How does alcohol affect your sleep, mood, anxiety, relationships, or sense of presence?
What role does it play in stress relief, celebration, or connection? For example, what would it be like to attend a birthday dinner or winter gathering without drinking alcohol?
Dry January can function as a low-pressure experiment (i.e., an opportunity to gather information rather than make a lifelong decision). For some, the result is less drinking. For others, it’s more intentional drinking.
Ultimately, reflecting on alcohol is an act of self-care, not self-criticism.
Whether you choose to participate in Dry January fully, partially, or not at all, the invitation is the same: curiosity over judgment, flexibility over rules, and compassion over comparison. Your relationship with alcohol is allowed to evolve, and you’re allowed to check in with it at any point on the spectrum.
We invite you to join Dr Yusufov in a small group discussion this January or February as you explore your relationship with alcohol (and other substances!). Details are below:
-
Taking part in Dry January—or simply rethinking how alcohol fits into your life? Join this small, virtual discussion group designed for students and adults who are curious, reflective, and motivated to make intentional choices.
Led by Dr. Miryam Yusufov, a clinician and researcher with decades of expertise in substance use, this three-session group offers a supportive, evidence-based space to explore your relationship with alcohol. Through practical exercises and clear, research-grounded information, you’ll examine habits, goals, and values—without pressure to label yourself or commit to abstinence.
-
Sessions meet online for three evenings in January and February (Mondays or Wednesdays, 6–7 pm EDT). Cost is $275.
-
SIgn up here or reach out to us with any questions: info@LauraFerrerphd.com