High sobriety

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

I can’t believe it. Finally. Finally! It’s the last day of January.

I feel as though I’ve known the sober soldiers in my Dry January WhatsApp group since forever, and have them to thank for sticking it out until now. Considering January contains my wedding anniversary and Burns Night (I’m half Scottish), it’s pretty rare that I actually manage the full month sober. But I have - and I even went to a ceilidh and danced sober. If I can do that, then I know I have the strength of resolve not to slide into Wet February.

One thing I have learnt over the past 253 days of January, is that there has been a seismic shift in drinking habits. Back in, say, 2019, the idea of not having a wine or three cockails on a Friday, at least, was absurd (to many in the circles I find myself in, at least). But people seem to be prioritising their health - and their dignity - more than we used t…