10 Things to Do With Friends This January...Instead of Drinking

Dry January doesn’t have to mean staying in, missing out, or awkwardly sipping water while everyone else has fun. In fact, taking alcohol out of the equation can open the door to more creative, memorable ways to spend time with friends.

Whether you’re fully committing to Dry January, just cutting back or just looking for some fun activities to do with friends, these ideas focus on connection over cocktails, and most of them are things you’ll actually want to keep doing long after January ends.

1. Host a Mocktail Night

Turn it into an event. Set out juices, sparkling water, citrus, herbs, and fun glassware, and let everyone mix their own drinks. It still feels festive — just without the hangover. Try out these Living Juice mocktails for an especially tasty evening! 

Bonus: everyone can drive home!

2. Go for a Winter Walk (or Walk-and-Talk)

Bundle up and head outside. Walking side by side makes conversation feel easier and more natural with no reservations or bar tabs required.

Hot tea or coffee during or afterward is optional but encouraged.

3. Try a New Fitness Class Together

Think less “bootcamp,” more fun movement:

• Yoga
• Pilates
• Dance
• Barre
• Boxing

Maybe there's a new studio or class you've bene wanting to try. Doing something new together is a quick way to bond! 

4. Cook a Meal Together

Pick a recipe, assign roles, put on music, and make it a night. Cooking together scratches the same social itch as going out, but you end up with dinner instead of a headache.

Bonus: Pair your meal with Living Juice mocktails! 

5. Game Night (Yes, Still Fun as Adults)

Board games, card games, trivia, or even a puzzle night. Add snacks, candles, and good music and suddenly it’s not “wholesome,” it’s cozy.

6. Sauna, Cold Plunge, or Spa Day

Many wellness spaces now offer social experiences like saunas or contrast therapy. It’s surprisingly fun, very January-coded, and gives you something to talk about afterward.

7. Take a Class That Has Nothing to Do with Health

Pottery, painting, cooking, flower arranging are all great options! Doing something creative together shifts the focus from consuming to creating.

And you’ll leave with something tangible instead of just memories.

8. Coffee Shop Hop

Try two or three spots in one afternoon. Rate the vibes, the drinks, the pastries. It’s casual, low-pressure, and feels like a mini adventure.

Pro tip: choose a few spots that are walkable to maximize your time together. 

9. Host a Theme Night

Give the night a purpose:

• Movie marathon
• Book club
• Vision board night
• “Bring your favorite snack” night
• Learn how to play Mahjong night

Themes make staying in feel intentional instead of like a fallback.

10. Do Absolutely Nothing Together

Order takeout. Sit on the couch. Talk. Scroll. Laugh. No agenda.

Sometimes the most meaningful connection happens when you remove the expectation that something needs to happen.

Why Dry January Can Actually Improve Your Social Life

Without alcohol as the default activity, you’re forced to get a little more creative, and often, more present. Conversations go deeper. Plans feel more intentional. And you realize that what you really wanted wasn’t the drink, but the connection.

Dry January doesn’t have to be about restriction. It can be an invitation to reimagine how you spend time together.