Whether you’re attempting Dry January or just want to find some alternative ways to spend the weekend that don’t involve pints, we’ve gathered up some ideas that will most definitely pique your interest.
As the second weekend of January approaches, the novelty of those New Year resolutions may already be wearing off. After a Christmas spent socialising, going to the pub feels like muscle memory at this point, and the actual literal blistering cold is making the old reliable endorphin rushes of coastal hikes and sea swimming seem borderline laughable.
Regardless, it turns out commitments made in your WhatsApp group when you were feeling a little more motivated are legally binding for the duration of January, so you’re going to want to find some better ways to spend your free time than catching up on television and scrolling on your phone.
All jokes aside, there is an extreme lack of alcohol-free third spaces here in Ireland, particularly outside of Dublin, so we wanted to shout about some venues, groups and businesses that are helping to bridge that gap in 2024. Without further ado, here are some booze-free ways to pass the time this Dry (or Damp) January…
Dry January Festival
A whole month-long festival dedicated to the cause, Dry January Festival is giving you the opportunity to try out a new craft, exercise, explore, create, and meet new people, all while doing something a little different with your time this month. Their curated programme of events include everything from storytelling, live music and magic shows to captivating art events, unique gatherings, and cultural events. Find a full list of events here.
Challenge yourself in an Escape Room
You know what sounds fun? Gathering up a group of your friends and getting locked into a strange room for an hour, the only way to regain your freedom resting on your ability to work as a team, find clues and solve riddles. Yes, it may sound a little bit stressful, but it’s genuinely a very fun way to have some organised fun with your pals. There are great escape rooms all over Ireland, but standout spots include Black 11 in Galway, Escape Dublin, and WeEscape in Cork.
Unleash your inner child
Do you know what we could be doing when we’re not mysteriously sipping a margarita or attempting to split the G on a pint of Guinness of a weekend? We could be tapping into our childlike wonder, giggling and kicking our legs around with the glee as we jump up and down on a trampoline (à la Jumplanes), dangling from ropes at Centre Parcs, or mastering just about every sport imaginable at Pure Skill. Good clean fun is in for 2024.
A boozeless bar
Newsflash, buddy, it turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks. Board Dublin is a brand new board games bar and café in Harold’s Cross serving up the best in non-alcoholic Guinness, Carlsberg, Heineken, craft beers, craft cocktails,kombucha, kefir, the list goes on. They’ve got pizzas, pastries and salads, and over 200 board games to choose from. The only rule? The loser buys the next round. Word on the street is there’ll be live bands, DJs, comedy sets, bingo and quiz nights coming soon.
Babes without Beers
If you’re set on reducing your alcohol intake in 2024, but don’t have a like-minded group around you, now is most definitely the time to join an online community like Babes without Beers to get that sober support system in place. Open to women, non-binary people and all members of the LGBTQ+ community, they organise regular meetups and regional events, so keep your eyes peeled for one near you.
Seanchoíche storytelling nights
A storytelling platform founded in Dublin that currently runs across Dublin, London, Amsterdam, Sydney, Melbourne, Belfast, Limerick and further afield, Seanchoíche host nights for people from all corners to come and listen and engage with spoken stories, ranging from personal anecdotes, monologues, fictional narratives, to poetry pieces and anything in between. While there are no events currently on the cards for January, it’s a great platform to have on your radar for future reference.
How about a hobby?
Whether you want to master a new craft or become a Jack of all trades, you could use your time wisely by signing up for classes, or scoping out some daylong workshops to give yourself a foundation in something you’ve always been interested in, but never quite found the time for. I can personally vouch for Galway Pottery Classes, and I’ve been scoping out Glint Glass Studio and Dublin Climbing Centre as potential new avenues for fun.
Tea Garden on Ormond Quay
For many of us, it’s not the alcohol we miss, but the social aspect of popping into the pub, catching up with friends, people watching, and thoroughly unwinding. Well, what if I told you that you can trade the gin and tonic for a shisha of pretty much any flavour under the sun? Plus, they’re all nicotine, tobacco, and tar free. A little sanctuary where you can kick your shoes off and unwind with some tea, shisha, and snacks, it’s something a little different that you’re bound to enjoy.
Arcade Games at Token
If you haven’t already been to Token, it’s basically the coolest birthday party you were invited to as a kid, but for grown ups. There are more than 40 arcade games and pinball machines including Tetris and Pacman, and they also serve up some of the most incredible omni and vegan burgers around. This would be an ideal spot to pop along to on a sober first date, if you’re lookin’!
Did someone say roller disco?
For those based in Limerick or willing to travel a little bit for some exceptional fun, RollerJam is Munster’s only roller disco, complete with a state of the art sound system, lights, and great music choices. The indoor rink is open to the public for some freestyle fun (which will likely include many tumbles on your first try), but they also offer skate classes, if it’s something you might want to master by the time summer rolls (pardon the pun) around.
Ireland’s first Rage Room
How about having an impartial third party organise your chaos for you for a little while? Basically, you book in for a 20-minute slot—all the gear is provided—and you just let all the anger, stress, and bad vibes existing inside of you out by quite literally trashing the room around you. Smash televisions, break dishes, there are zero consequences, and you’ll likely feel extremely relaxed after.
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