Dry January Is Sobering Up UK Pub Gross sales 

This yr, many people are stopping ingesting as a part of the Dry January problem, an alcohol-free marketing campaign to advertise the well being advantages of going sober. However whereas shoppers is likely to be in higher well being this month, the UK’s pubs, bars, and golf equipment are reeling.

Based on the CGA’s Each day Drinks Tracker, drinks gross sales dropped within the first full week of this month, as Brits leapt onto the Dry January development. As reported by the Morning Advertiser, beverage gross sales had been down by 9% in comparison with the identical interval in 2024.

This isn’t simply an ethanol exodus, nevertheless. Evaluation of the information exhibits that gross sales of soppy drinks for the week to January 11 additionally fell by 8%, surpassing the decline in beer.

The findings counsel that Dry January is having a knock on impact for UK hospitality, impacting wider drinks gross sales at a time when enterprise revenue margins are already tasting flat. 

Weekend offender

Gross sales at UK pubs, bars, and golf equipment have slowed over the previous yr attributable to the price of residing disaster. This month, although, the decreased client spending energy might mix with the Dry January development to make an unappetising cocktail for space managers.

The Each day Drinks Tracker exhibits a decline in gross sales throughout all main drinks classes for the week ending 11 January. In comparison with the identical interval final yr:

• Beer gross sales are down by 7%
• Cider, wine, and tender drinks gross sales are down by 8%
• Spirits gross sales are down by 18%

That shoppers are shopping for fewer food plan cokes, not simply much less booze, this month suggests the anti-alcohol motion could also be turning into an anti-drinks motion, as Brits ditch the pub to keep away from temptation totally.

Weekend buying and selling can often be relied upon to be busier, with the normal ‘non college nights’ of Friday and Saturday often selecting up the slack throughout a quieter spending week. 

Reportedly, although, the primary few weeks in January have ended not with a bang however with a whimper. On Sunday 5 January, gross sales had been as much as 17% decrease than on the identical day in 2024, whereas gross sales on the Friday and Saturday fell by a median of 9%.

Driest January to date

The sober motion has already been threatening money movement for taprooms. Youthful generations are ingesting much less and UK workplaces are turning away from alcohol, as work at home insurance policies name final orders on after-work drinks. 

Now, analysis performed on the finish of final yr means that this Dry January may very well be the most important ever. Estimates from Alcohol Change UK, the organisation behind Dry January, discovered that round 29% Britons had been collaborating within the 2025 problem, or 15.5 million folks. 

If appropriate, these figures would break the file set in 2024. Information from the British Beer and Pub Affiliation present that one in 5 shoppers signed as much as go sober final January, a fall in customized that would paradoxically trigger a hangover for the business within the coming months.

Some pub landlords have slashed their costs in response. Cox’s Yard in Stratford has been providing £4 pints all through January, whereas the Necarne Arms in Northern Eire is promoting Guinness for £2.50, capitalising on rising demand for the drink.

“Funds will hurt pubs greater than Dry January”

In December 2024, the Each day Drinks Tracker recorded a constructive finish to the yr. Buoyed by varied festive socials and events, drinks gross sales in UK institutions had been up by as a lot as 8% within the ultimate two weeks of the yr, in comparison with the tip of 2023.

The champagne will seemingly keep corked in 2025. Based on our unique survey of SME leaders, hospitality is the least optimistic concerning the subsequent 12 months, and for good cause.

Come April, a raft of tax rises introduced within the Autumn Funds are due. That features a rise to each employer nationwide insurance coverage contributions and the nationwide minimal wage. Hospitality, the place revenue margins are already razor skinny, will seemingly be hit hardest.

Brief-term, low cost provides might assist pubs and bars get by the month. However the sector will want one thing stronger from the UK authorities whether it is to outlive the yr.

“The Labour finances will do much more to hurt the pub business than Dry January will,” says Jesse Wilson, founder and CEO of the disruptive beverage model, Jubel. “There can be massively elevated prices for operators this yr and I believe so much will wrestle.”