Per your comment about the effect on socialization: hang in there! That space is improving!

I've never gone for drinking, and it was deeply ingrained in the social and startup experience when I was younger. This could be a bit alienating at times (it's not fun being the only sober person at a party, and there's just no right way to refuse a kegstand invite from your boss).

One of the surprising outcomes of dry january and general aging... in some ways, I'm getting to know my long-time peers for the first time. More mixer events are providing non-alcoholic drinks as a first class item, and when we socialize, instead of pressuring me to do shots, we're sharing all the other stuff I enjoyed doing all along: trading favorite tea blends, day hikes, game nights, etc.

I've never met the author, but for anyone else considering this: Welcome, new old friend!