My Dry January Was Off to a Rough Start. Could Creative, Boozeless Concoctions Serve Up Some Redemption? Illustration by Jon Fuller As the days shortened and darkened with 2020âs final act, I found my nightly glass of wine coming earlier and becoming two, or three, sometimes chased by shame the next morning. A disclaimer: I donât see drinking as a black-and-white divide between good, self-controlled, responsible drinkers and bad, gluttonous alcoholics. Everyone who chooses to imbibe exists on a spectrum of risk, and where you fall depends on your relationship with alcohol. Iâve always liked to drink, although since college, my relationship with alcohol has mellowed. Pre-pandemic, Iâd go out and throw a few back once a week with pals, but for the most part, I felt in control. Until I didnât.