Live Well: Dry January

After all the holiday festivities, January is a great time to reassess your alcohol intake. And whether you're cutting back for just a month or thinking of quitting alcohol altogether, it’s good to have a few non-alcoholic options up your sleeve.

Here are some tried and tested favorites:

• Soda water and fresh lime 
  Simple yet effective, it looks like vodka, soda and lime, and no one needs to know otherwise if you're keeping your Dry January resolutions private.
• Mocktails 
  Most bars and restaurants will have various mocktails available. Some popular choices are a Virgin Mojito, Virgin Caesar, or Espresso Martini. 
• Alcohol-free spirits
  The rise in non-alcoholic spirits makes quitting even easier than before. So much so, that most bars will stock at least one alcohol-free wine, beer or spirit.
• Kombucha
  Kombucha is a fermented tea. It’s packed with bubbles and contains probiotics, so it doesn’t just taste great, it's good for your gut too. Some varieties may contain small amounts of alcohol, so make sure to check the label.
• Other beverages
  If all else fails, there’s fruit juice. Another tip is to enjoy a blend of traditional mixers, without the alcohol. Try pairing a non-alcoholic ginger beer with pineapple juice.

With a little effort and a pinch of imagination, there are so many possible combinations - alcohol could even start to seem irrelevant. Why not challenge yourself to a dry week, month, or even year and reap the benefits of an alcohol-free life.