Guide · Month off alcohol
Sober months of the year: Dry January, Sober October and the rest
Dry January is the famous one, but it is far from the only month people put the glass down. Here is every well-known sober month, who runs it, what the rules are, and a simple way to choose the one that fits your year.
Photo is illustrative, not from a past month. Credits.
Quick answer. The best-known sober months are Dry January (UK charity Alcohol Change UK, since 2013), Dry February and FebFast (February challenges in several countries), Dry July (Dry July Foundation, Australia, since 2008, raising money for people affected by cancer) and Sober October (Macmillan Cancer Support's Go Sober for October, UK, since 2013). The rule is the same: no alcohol for the month. Many are charity fundraisers; some allow a paid "golden ticket" night off.
Search "sober months" and you'll find a calendar that is getting crowded. That is a good sign: more people want a regular break from alcohol, and there is now a month for almost every reason, from post-Christmas reset to charity fundraiser to pre-summer fitness.
Please read this first. If you drink heavily or every day, or use other drugs daily, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you stop. The Quiet Month is not medical, not therapy and not rehab. In a crisis, call your local emergency number or find a free helpline at findahelpline.com. More in our questions.
The sober months at a glance
| Month | Name | Who runs it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry January | Alcohol Change UK (since 2013) | The biggest; free app and emails; a reset after December |
| February | Dry February, FebFast | Various charities in different countries | The shortest month; often for fundraising |
| July | Dry July | Dry July Foundation (Australia since 2008, New Zealand since 2012) | Raises money for people affected by cancer; "golden ticket" night off by donation |
| October | Sober October (Go Sober for October) | Macmillan Cancer Support, UK (since 2013, inspired by Dry July) | Fundraiser; golden ticket option; three weeks before the party season |
| Any month | Your own dry month | You | Start on the 1st of any month; 30 or 31 days |
Dry January
The original and the largest. Started by the UK charity Alcohol Change UK in 2013 with 4,000 people, it now has a free app, daily emails and many millions of people taking part informally. Dry January 2027 runs from Friday 1 to Sunday 31 January. Everything you need is in what is Dry January?, with the rules and tips.
Dry February and FebFast
For people who missed January, or would rather keep the New Year's party and then stop. February is the shortest month, which helps. Several charities run February challenges in different countries; FebFast is a long-running Australian one. Read Dry February for a plan.
Dry July
Dry July began in Australia in 2008, when three friends decided to go without alcohol for a month to raise money for a hospital; the first year raised far more than they hoped. It is now run by the Dry July Foundation, which funds support for people affected by cancer, and it spread to New Zealand. Participants raise sponsorship and can buy a "golden ticket" for a night off.
Sober October
In the UK, Go Sober for October is Macmillan Cancer Support's fundraiser, launched in 2013 in partnership with Dry July. You sign up, go alcohol-free for the month and raise money for people living with cancer; a golden ticket option lets you buy a night off. In the US, "Sober October" is also a popular informal challenge. If you have just finished one, read after Sober October.
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Which one should you choose?
- Want a fresh start and lots of company? January: the most people, the most support, the clearest line.
- December is your big month? February: party first, then rest.
- Want to raise money for a cause? July or October, with sponsorship.
- Busy season at work? Pick a quiet month, any month. A dry month doesn't have to have a name.
- Want to go further? Some people do two a year, for example January and July, as a regular check on their habits.
The rules are the same everywhere
No alcohol for the month. Decide in advance about alcohol-free drinks (0.0% or 0.5%) and cooking with wine. If you slip, carry on the next day rather than restarting. The free 31-day alcohol-free challenge works for any month: skip the dates and follow the daily tasks. And the calculator works for any number of days.
Is a golden ticket cheating?
It is allowed in the fundraising challenges that offer it, and it raises money. But a month with a night off is a different experiment from a month without one. If you want to know what a fully clear month feels like, keep the ticket in your pocket.
After any sober month
The month is the easy bit; what you keep afterwards is the point. Decide in the last week, not on day one after. Ideas: drink-free weekdays, a weekly limit, a second month later in the year. More in after Dry January and how long it takes to break a habit.
Where The Quiet Month fits
The Quiet Month starts on the 1st of every month from January 2027, so you can turn any sober month into a month away, if that suits you.
The Quiet Month is a calm month away for up to four guests, each in their own private flat a short walk from me: slow mornings, a short, always optional meditation, daily movement, shared low-carb meals and long evening talks, with no alcohol, no smoking and no drugs for anyone, me included. The first month starts on 1 January 2027, then on the 1st of every month. Honestly: I'm self-taught, not a doctor or counsellor, and The Quiet Month is not medical and not therapy. Every guest is 21 or over and brings a doctor's fit-to-join letter. I don't publish where I am; after a free video call, if we both want to go ahead, you learn the country and city before you sign anything, and nothing is paid before that call and a signed agreement. The programme fee is US$10,000 for the month; your flat and flights are extra. See the January 2027 month and what the fee includes.
Email me first at info@thequietmonth.com, start step 1 of the application (about five minutes, free, no commitment), or book a free 20-minute call.
The Quiet Month team
Questions people ask
What are the sober months?
The best known are Dry January, Dry February (and FebFast), Dry July and Sober October. You can also choose any month as your own dry month.
Who runs Sober October?
In the UK, Go Sober for October is a Macmillan Cancer Support fundraiser, launched in 2013. "Sober October" is also used for informal challenges elsewhere.
What is Dry July?
A month without alcohol in July that raises money for people affected by cancer. It began in Australia in 2008 and is run by the Dry July Foundation.
What is a golden ticket?
In some fundraising challenges, such as Dry July and Go Sober for October, a donation buys one night off. Dry January has no golden ticket.
Can I do a dry month in any month?
Yes. Start on the 1st of any month and do 30 or 31 days. The rules and tips are the same.
Sources
- Alcohol Change UK: The Dry January story (started 2013 with 4,000 people)
- Dry July Foundation: Our story (began 2008 in Australia; New Zealand from 2012; funds support for people affected by cancer)
- Civil Society: Macmillan launches Go Sober for October fundraising challenge (2013, in partnership with Dry July)
- Find A Helpline: free helplines in many countries
Prices and facts were checked on 3 November 2026. Prices change; always check the source before you book anything.