As Americans Gear Up for Dry and Damp January, Reframe Shares New Insights to Improve Success Rates in 2026

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As Americans prepare to reduce or pause drinking for Dry and Damp January, Reframe, the leading alcohol-reduction app in the U.S. with the largest user base and the world’s largest repository of alcohol-cessation data, is sharing key behavioral insights from last year’s Dry January cohort to help participants enter 2026 with a strategic advantage.

Drawing from 222,000+ Reframe users, 30 million eliminated drinks and millions of self-reported behavioral markers, Reframe’s 2025 Dry January dataset offers the clearest picture to date of what predicts Dry/Damp January success.

“During the holidays, alcohol becomes ubiquitous—embedded in every social gathering, office party and family dinner,” said Frank Spinelli, MD, medical advisor at Reframe. “Drinking windows expand significantly. People give themselves—and each other—permission to drink more, earlier and more frequently than they would any other time of year. That cultural permission is precisely what makes holiday drinking lead to excess.”

Looking at how people actually behaved throughout the month, Reframe’s data reveals several factors most strongly associated with completing Dry or Damp January.

Key Insights from January 2025 to Aid Success in 2026

1. Early progress sets the tone for the entire month.

Users who did not drink any alcohol for all seven days of the first week completed the month at a 74.4% rate, more than 2x higher than those who began with 0–2 dry days (32.1%).

2. How you respond to a slip matters more than the slip.

In Reframe’s data, a “slip” refers to a day when a user drinks alcohol despite setting a Dry or Damp January goal. Users who slipped but returned to their goals within 48 hours completed the month at a 65.1% rate. However, those who stopped logging in the app after a slip completed at 10.4% rate. Slips are common, but continuing to track during those difficult periods will help keep users on schedule.

3. Tracking is a strong predictor of success.

Regular tracking keeps people engaged with their intentions, acting as a helpful accountability tool. Daily loggers (25+ days) completed the month at 96.3%, a 7x higher completion rate than sparse loggers (>7 days) who finished January at 13.9%.

4. Weekends present the most challenges.

Dry rates decline by 6–7 percentage points on Fridays and Saturday has the lowest dry rate of the month (61.0%), with drinkers reporting an average of 4.4 drinks. Planning weekend activities ahead of time may support adherence.

5. Social settings are the most common source of slips.

Social events, and the associated pressure, caused 2x more slips than stress or anxiety, with peak slip rates occurring around dinners, parties and weekend plans. Preparing responses for social situations can help maintain goals.

6. Damp January offers measurable benefits for those not ready for full abstinence.

Damp January participants eliminated an average of 68 drinks and were 4x more likely to attempt the challenge compared to strict Dry January participants pursuing full alcohol abstinence. Additionally, 22% of Damp January participants shifted into “mostly dry” patterns (80%+ dry days). The flexible approach Damp January provides can have a high impact and may be more sustainable for many people.

Reframe’s 2025 Dry/Damp January Tools & Support

As interest in Dry and Damp January continues to grow, joining Reframe offers:

• Daily evidence-based habit-change guidance
• Personalized prompts and logging streaks to reinforce accountability
• Craving and slip-recovery tools, including the 48-hour reset framework
• Community support spaces for both Dry and Damp January participants

“We built Reframe to give people structure without pressure,” said Verdant Pradeep, cofounder and CEO of Reframe. “Dry or Damp January can feel overwhelming if you try to rely on motivation alone. Having guidance, tools and support in one place helps people stay engaged, even on the hard days.”

To participate in Dry or Damp January with structured support, download Reframe at: www.joinreframeapp.com

About Reframe

Reframe is a neuroscience-based habit-change app that helps people reduce, moderate, or stop drinking. Built with input from medical and mental health experts, Reframe combines daily science-backed lessons, practical tools and community support to make behavior change feel manageable and personal. The program is designed to adapt to individual goals, without shame or rigid rules.

Contacts

Grace Gervais

[email protected]
518.646.1644