As the new year starts, so does Dry January – the trendy tradition of going alcohol-free for a a month as a way to recuperate from the overindulgences of November and December's holidays, family gatherings and get-togethers with friends.
Dry January, as we know it today, has its roots in England, where a public health campaign in 2013 encouraged people to abstain from alcohol for the first month of the year. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, but the earliest known intentional, alcohol-free month dates back decades earlier to Finland in 1942, when the Finnish government launched Sober January to help with the war effort.
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Taking a monthlong break from alcohol will not counteract the longterm effect of binge drinking, but for those who generally consume alcohol in moderation but have partied a little harder in recent weeks, abstaining from booze can help a person lose weight, feel less anxious and sleep better.
Some Philadelphia-area bars and restaurants are helping people maintain social lives while on their Dry January quests. FCM Hospitality – the owners of Morgan's Pier, Harper's Garden and Lola's Garden – is gearing up for alcohol-free month with its new Mocktail Happy Hour, featuring $5 beverages."After the holidays everyone needs some sort of reboot," said Matt Deutsch, FCM Hospitality's beverage director. "Some people drink a little heavier during the holiday season. Taking a month off is a great way to get yourself back to even and do a reset."
Other spots include Passyunk Square's Ember & Ash and Renata's Kitchen in Spruce Hill, both of which feature mocktails all year round.
Beginning Monday, Jan. 3, Philadelphia's indoor dining vaccine mandate goes into effect at all bars and restaurants in Philadelphia. Be sure to pack your vaccine card (or have photo stored on your phone) before heading out.
Whether planning to take part, or simply looking for deals on zero-proof drinks, Dry January can be exciting for everyone.
Harper's Garden
Open for happy hour from 3-5 p.m. every Monday to Friday, Harper's Garden in Center City serves mocktails in its indoor and outdoor dining spaces, including inside the restaurant's greenhouses.
The alcohol-free creations from the bar include moon drop lemonade made with moon-drop grapes, blackberry ginger soda, and mulled hot cider, and the fig vanilla palmer, made with vanilla, lemonade, and iced tea.
Location: 31 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
Lola's Garden
Lola's mocktail happy hour runs from 3-6 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and then again later at 9 -11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The special is available exclusively at the bar.
Lola's Dry January beverages include blackberry ginger soda; spicy pineapple with grilled pineapple juice and fresno pepper extract; fig strawberry lemonade, and the cucumber-basil butterfly made with lime juice, muddled basil and cucumber and butterfly pea tea.
Location: 51 St. Georges Road., Ardmore, PA 19003
Craft Hall
It's mocktail drink menu includes strawberry lemonade, peach palmer, apple cider spritzer and cranberry splash.
Location: 901 N. Delaware Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19123Ember & Ash
Ember & Ash in South Philly serves a year-round menu of "Non Booze Jawns" featuring four crafty concoctions
The tomato collins is made with zero-proof gin and smoked tomato shrub. There is also the booze-less Negroni, a Korean spice margarita, and the berry jawn, which made with pomegranate, blackberry, and ginger.
Location: 1520 E. Passyunk Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19147
Renata's Kitchen
Renata's Kitchen in West Philly supplements its traditional cocktail menu with a sizable lineup of mocktails appropriate for Dry January. The alcohol-free beverages are not part of Renata's happy hour deals, and are available for $7 per drink.
In addition to non-alcoholic versions of the restaurant's traditional drinks, like the blueberry lemon spritz, the mocktail menu features the rumman spritz made with pomegranate molasses and sweet mint; the Casablanca palmer, a drink with lemonade and mint iced tea; and Miriam's Limonada, a mint-infused lemonade drink.
Location: 3940 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104
Juno
The mocktail happy hour at Mexican restaurant Juno is 4-6 p.m. each Monday through Thursday. Seating is available indoors and outdoors.
Juno serves a full line-up of non-alcoholic margaritas in flavors like blood orange, strawberry, pineapple, spicy mango, blackberry, and hot honey.
Location: 1033 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
Rosy's Taco Bar
Rosy's in Rittenhouse hosts its mocktail happy hour from 3-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and offers guests indoor and outdoor seating options.
It serves a full selection of flavored, non-alcoholic margaritas in varieties like passionfruit, mango, blood orange, strawberry, pineapple, and habanero.
Location: 2220 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19103