For anyone aiming to cut back drinking, January's arrival times perfectly. Some may have simply overdone it through the long holiday stretch, when alcohol seemed piped into any vaguely celebratory event. Some may worry that they're beginning to forget the last drink they accepted.

Recovering alcoholics or others who don't drink at all have it easier, in one small way. Their intimates get to know that they do not imbibe — not beer, not wine, not liquor — and so don't push alcohol in their direction.

Those who want a drink now and then — in some cases, every night — can come up with rules for 2026. They can establish stronger barriers dividing OK drinking and not OK — always considering body size or other physical traits tied to capacity.

That should get easier as the culture shifts: Younger people are drinking less than their elders, and plenty aren't drinking at all.

But advertising keeps pressing glasses in people's hands, even if the product itself has nothing to do with alcohol. Wine, especially champagne, is portrayed as the undisputed symbol of a good time.

You see bubbly in ads for casinos, for cruises, for jewelry, for premium hotels, even candlelit spas. I recall a whale watching trip in Mexico where crew members handed plastic cups of fizzy wine to embarking tourists without asking first — and before noon. Of course, anytime a passenger waved it off, they would immediately withdraw the cup. Still, it seemed odd to see alcohol as the default beverage on a nature trip.

For several of the above reasons, Dry January was born. This is a monthlong pledge to skip alcohol with the option of coming back as a more moderate drinker. Dry January is especially helpful for those feeling socially pressured to drink more than they'd consider ideal. They can tell a host or bar mate, "I'm doing Dry January" and be quickly understood.

Let's stay mindful, however, that alcohol does do some societal good. Bars help inject life to downtowns after dark. Lively street scenes often prompt shops to stay open later.

Alcohol taxes fund a lot of government, and in many places a raised glass is part of the local culture. Think of beer in Milwaukee, which markets itself as Brew City. Or in Tennessee, a Whiskey Trail consisting of more than 30 distilleries.

Again, the other hand: There are all those health warnings that tie alcohol to various cancers. Some have been challenged.

Meanwhile, social isolation may be a major health risk factor comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a National Institutes of Health study. Bars along with cafes and bookstores are "third places" — not work or home — where individuals can mix with others.

Happily, there has been a change in the cocktail culture leading bars to offer alternatives to booze. Mocktails are non-alcoholic drinks and often more inventive than mixed cocktails. I recall a good friend and recovering alcoholic who loved bar action. He'd sit at one almost night and nurse a club soda.

Gwen, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Los Angeles, offers a water tasting menu. You can order an East Coast water, such as Saratoga, or go continental with a French Evian. The menu describes a Georgian sparkling water called Borjomi as salty and complex. The restaurant offers recommendations for water pairings with food.

Speaking of California, much has been said about a concept called California Sober. That involves not drinking or drinking very little alcohol and turning to legal cannabis for a mood lift. We're still waiting, however, for the resort ad that pictures its elegant guests socializing over a joint.

To drink or not to drink. That clearly depends.

Follow Froma Harrop on X @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators webpage at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Leon Kohle at Unsplash