Nightlife + Dining
Dry January 2026: The Rise of Sober Curious Nightlife with Hilary Sheinbaum
Discover how Dry January 2026 is redefining nightlife with the rise of sober curious clubgoers, mocktail bars, zero-proof drinks, and wellness-focused nights out.
- By: Julianne Elise Beffa I Photos By: Lisa Richov
Dry January is no longer just a personal reset or a post-holiday cleanse. In 2026, it has become a defining moment for wellness nightlife, mindful drinking, and the rise of alcohol-free nightlife. From zero-proof drinks to elevated mocktail bars, the sober curious movement is changing how people experience nights out, without sacrificing style, energy, or fun.
Few voices have been as influential in this space as Hilary Sheinbaum, author of The Dry Challenge: How to Lose the Booze for Dry January, Sober October, and Any Other Alcohol-Free Month (HarperCollins), Going Dry: A Workbook: A Practical Guide to Drinking Less and Living More (Quarto, Sept. 2024) and A Journal for Bad Days (Simon & Schuster). Long before non-alcoholic cocktails became a nightlife staple, Sheinbaum was already observing a cultural shift.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, people were drinking a lot at home,” she says. “There was less of a separation, and sometimes no separation, between work and the bar cart.” When nightlife venues began reopening across the U.S. in 2021, that behavior came into focus. “People were realizing how much they were drinking at home and felt like it was time to drink less.”
Post-pandemic life brought new priorities. “Especially now, people are more concerned with immunity, wellness in general, and longevity than they were before,” Sheinbaum explains. “All of these things are not super compatible with booze.” That realization helped push sober nightlife trends into the mainstream.
Related | Sober Curious & Still Going Out in LA
At the center of this evolution is the concept of being sober curious. “Being sober curious means different things to different people,” Sheinbaum says. “For me, it means that I might have a drink once a month, or every so often, but for the majority of my nights out and for several weeks at a time, I’m not drinking alcohol.” Instead, she gravitates toward workout classes, coffee meet-ups, and ordering from non-alcoholic menus at bars and restaurants. “Full sobriety means zero alcohol, 100 percent of the time.”
People are more concerned with immunity, wellness in general, and longevity than they were before
The appeal goes beyond health alone. “People are enjoying being more present in their bodies, and they really want to feel good,” she says. “Beyond the health benefits of drinking less, people are realizing that waking up hangover-free is pretty amazing.” Sheinbaum is candid about the aesthetic factor as well. “Alcohol has a lot of empty calories, so when you cut it out, you might experience weight loss. Depending on the person, it could be one reason or all of them.”
Nightlife venues have responded quickly. Mocktail bars and zero-proof drink menus are now common across major cities. “It’s a smart move for nightlife venues to have entire menus dedicated to non-alcoholic beverages,” Sheinbaum explains. “At the end of the day, restaurants, bars, and clubs are businesses with a bottom line.” Well-crafted non-alcoholic cocktails often cost the same as traditional drinks, making them a win for both guests and venues.
Cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are leading the way. “New York City has a ton of establishments that serve NA beverages,” she says, citing Unlisted, a Lower East Side rooftop, as a favorite, along with newer concepts like The Maze, the city’s first alcohol-free members club. But the trend extends far beyond nightlife capitals. From Jackson Hole’s Four Seasons to Marco Island’s JW Marriott, alcohol-free nightlife is appearing everywhere.
New York City has a ton of establishments that serve NA beverages.
There is no single sober curious clubgoer, but Sheinbaum sees a clear generational pattern. “Gen Z is definitely leading the way when it comes to drinking less. Millennials are behind them,” she says. “It seems that older generations are not as quick to change their drinking habits.”
As for the future, Sheinbaum believes this shift is permanent. “The adoption of non-alcoholic beverages and the desire to drink less is a permanent cultural shift,” she says. “It’s hard to deny the mental, physical, financial, safety, and social benefits that take place when alcohol consumption is reduced.”
For anyone nervous about a sober night out, her advice is simple. “Go for it. Grab a fun non-alcoholic drink to keep your hands busy, and surround yourself with good people in a fun environment. It’s not the booze that makes a fun night out. It’s who you’re with and the vibe.”
Dry January 2026 reflects a larger redefinition of nightlife. With sober curious culture, mocktail bars, and zero-proof drinks shaping the scene, going out no longer has to mean overindulgence. Feeling good, staying present, and still having a great night has become the new standard.
Shop the books below!
$14
$10
