After weeks of indulgence, celebrations, late nights, and sweet treats, the new year arrives with a quiet question: How do you want to feel moving forward? For many people, that question leads to Dry January a month-long pause from alcohol that’s less about restriction and more about recalibration.
At Salacious Drinks, we believe Dry January doesn’t mean giving anything up. It means choosing differently and doing it beautifully.
That’s where water-based mocktails come in.
🌿 What Is Dry January — and Where Did It Start?
Dry January began in 2013, created by the UK nonprofit Alcohol Change UK. The idea was simple but powerful: encourage people to take a full month off alcohol to reset their relationship with drinking, observe how their body responds, and start the year with intention.
Since then, Dry January has become a global movement. Millions of people now participate each year not just those who want to stop drinking entirely, but also those who are sober-curious, health-focused, or simply interested in seeing how alcohol affects their sleep, energy, skin, digestion, and mood.
And here’s the key part:
Dry January is not about deprivation. It’s about awareness.
💧 Why Mocktails Matter (Especially During Dry January)
One of the biggest challenges people face during Dry January isn’t the absence of alcohol it’s the absence of ritual.
-
The wine glass at the end of the day
-
The celebratory toast
-
The beautifully garnished drink at dinner
-
The feeling of holding something special
Mocktails solve this when they’re done right.
A thoughtfully crafted water-based mocktail:
-
Keeps the ritual intact
-
Engages your senses
-
Feels intentional, not like a compromise
-
Supports hydration and digestion
-
Helps you stay consistent without feeling restricted
When the drink still feels special, your goals feel achievable.
✨ Why We Build Mocktails Around Water (Not Syrup)
At Salacious Drinks, we don’t start with sugar we start with water.
Natural mineral waters bring structure, texture, and flavor on their own:
-
Fine bubbles mimic Champagne
-
Volcanic waters add savory depth
-
Saline waters enhance citrus
-
Light spring waters keep things crisp and refreshing
In many cases, minerality replaces alcohol’s “bite”, creating a drink that still feels grown-up, complex, and satisfying even after the ice melts.
That’s why every mocktail we’ve created this season is water-forward, mineral-driven, and intentionally simple.
🍋 The Mocktails That Make Dry January Feel Like a Choice (Not a Chore)
Throughout the season, we’ve created a collection of water-based mocktails designed to meet different moods and moments:
-
Champagne-Style Celebration Mocktails for toasts and milestones
-
Volcanic Citrus Spritzes for digestion and post-holiday resets
-
Garden Spritzes with cucumber, herbs, and lime for daytime sipping
-
Mediterranean Lemon Fizzes that pair beautifully with food
-
Floral Elderflower Refreshers for aperitif moments
-
Blood Orange & Grapefruit Spritzes for winter brightness
-
Rose & Citrus Sparkles for dessert pairings
-
Mineral Paloma-Style Mocktails with salted rims for structure
-
Apple & Thyme Sparklers for cozy evenings
-
Winter Berry Fizzes with cranberry and rosemary for festive flair
Each one proves the same thing:
✨ You don’t need alcohol to create something worth savoring.
🥂 How Creating a Fun Beverage Helps You Stick With Dry January
Here’s what we’ve seen again and again:
People don’t “fail” Dry January because they miss alcohol.
They struggle because they miss intention, beauty, and pause.
Creating a mocktail:
-
Turns a habit into a ritual
-
Encourages mindfulness
-
Slows you down
-
Makes hydration enjoyable
-
Replaces impulse with choice
Pouring a drink becomes a moment not a reflex.
And those moments add up.
Many people who complete Dry January report:
-
Better sleep
-
Improved digestion
-
Clearer skin
-
More energy
-
A healthier relationship with alcohol moving forward
Not because they forced themselves but because they supported themselves.
💙 How to Participate in Dry January (Your Way)
There’s no single “right” way to do Dry January. Here’s how we recommend approaching it:
-
Set an intention, not a rule
(Better sleep? More energy? Curiosity?) -
Stock your fridge with water you’re excited to drink
Sparkling, still, mineral — variety matters. -
Choose glassware you love
A wine glass, coupe, or tumbler changes everything. -
Add one thoughtful garnish
Citrus peel, herbs, salt — simple goes a long way. -
Celebrate the process
Every alcohol-free choice is still a choice worth honoring.
💧 A Reset That Can Last Longer Than January
For some, Dry January is just one month.
For others, it’s the start of a new relationship with drinking — one that’s more intentional, flexible, and informed.
Wherever you land, water-based mocktails make the journey feel abundant instead of restrictive.
And that’s what we believe in most:
Hydration that fits your lifestyle and your goals.
Here’s to clarity, creativity, and raising a glass — filled with water that actually does something for you. 💧✨