'There is such a reliance on alcohol in society': Dry January making its way to Milwaukee

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's a movement that's growing in popularity and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

"Dry January" is a trend where people give up alcohol during the month of January, going completely sober from alcohol. The trend is catching on fast, even in Wisconsin.

The hashtags "sober" and "sobriety have more than 2.2 billion views on TikTok.

"I feel like people were home, they were able to drink a lot more, coping with Covid, and now coming out of that there is a reality where they're trying to drink less, said Ellie Gorny, a patron of The Pharmacy cocktail lounge in Milwaukee's Crossroads Collective.

The month-long sobriety trend is nothing new. The trend dates back to 2013, started by a United Kingdom charity.

This year, in 2023, the trend is getting noticeably more popular.

Gorny is from Kansas, but now lives in Wisconsin. Gorny is not doing Dry January, but she said she supports the movement.

"There is such a reliance on alcohol in society, creating a non-alcohol option is really important, giving people an opportunity to have a fun drink that’s not alcohol," said Gorny.

People who are participating in the month-long sobriety said the trend gives them a moment of clarity.

"I feel like I am at a good spot where I am not just overly tired all the time and my weekends are much more good for me, so it feels pretty good, said Tal Crook, a patron of The Pharmacy cocktail lounge.

A not-so-new trend making a big impact in the Badger State.

The east side's first non-alcoholic cocktail bar, The Counter Day Bar, is set to open Feb. 1.