Observances and Events

View information and resources that support alcohol awareness and education related observances as well as upcoming events where you can catch the Own Your Limits team.

Observances

Dry January 2024

Encourage Service members to practice responsible drinking in 2024 by kicking the year off with Dry January, a 31-day challenge where participants worldwide take a timeout from alcohol. This popular challenge may help Service members notice and reevaluate their drinking habits during the month and could even inspire a longer-term commitment to responsible drinking in the new year!

• Ready-to-use messaging. Complement your local efforts like, plan of the day (POD)/plan of the week (POW) notes, newsletter articles, email communications and more, with these ready-to-use messages and resources:
  • Challenge yourself to hit pause. Are you someone who enjoys a good challenge? This month, challenge yourself to take a break from drinking for 31 days for Dry January. Remember, hitting pause doesn’t mean giving up alcohol forever. Going alcohol free for even just one month can have major benefits for your physical health and sleeping habits.
  • Count it down. Need a visual aid to help you track your alcohol free days? Check out the 31 Days Without Alcohol activity sheet [PDF 831KB] to keep tabs on your progress. You can share this with your buddies for extra motivation and support. Better yet, encourage them to join you and keep each other accountable!
  • Start small. Not ready for a month-long commitment? Start small and do Dry-ish January by setting new goals like cutting back on the number of drinks you have each week. This can not only help your finances and wallet but your health too!
  • Find replacements. You can still enjoy a night with your buddies while staying alcohol free. Just sip on a mocktail instead! Check out these mocktail recipes [PDF848KB] that can support your fun while staying on track.
• Engage with Own Your Limits beyond Dry January. Subscribe to The Buzz on Responsible Drinking, the campaign’s quarterly e-Newsletter, for resources to support your local efforts throughout the upcoming new year. To view past editions, check out the Own Your Limits Quarterly e-Newsletter webpage. Your support for Service members is an ongoing effort and Own Your Limits wants to help you along the way.

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month 2023

December is an important time to remind Service members of the risks around impaired or intoxicated driving and emphasize how to drink responsibly. In support of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, professionals can use Own Your Limits resources to equip Service members with strategies to help them always make it home safely after drinking.

• Ready-to-use messaging. Complement your local efforts, plan of the day (POD)/plan of the week (POW) notes, newsletter articles, email communications, and more, with these ready-to-use messages and resources:
  • Practice safe driving. One of the best ways to keep the roads safe is to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol. Even if you think you’re OK to drive after consuming one or two drinks, it’s not worth the risk (or the hefty DUI cost!). Learn your limits so you can make informed decisions next time you go out drinking. Remember, driving buzzed IS driving drunk.
  • Make a plan and stick to it. Don’t forget to have a plan for the journey home. Choose a designated driver (DD) beforehand or use a rideshare app to get back safely. You can go the extra mile (pun intended!) and opt to be the DD yourself to make sure you and your buddies don’t drink and drive. Make sure to hang on to the keys and steer clear of alcohol if you’re the DD!
  • Say no to FOMO (fear of missing out!). Peer pressure can be difficult to navigate, but don’t let that put you in a dangerous position on the road. If your buddies invite you to a setting where alcohol will be involved, remind yourself of the ways to embrace self-control, especially if you’re planning to drive. Say no to alcoholic drinks, have a mocktail [PDF 848KB] instead of a cocktail or leave early. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Campaign videos. Check out and share the campaign videos, such as Drinking Too Much: How Alcohol Affects Your Brain and Body, to complement your efforts in helping Service members understand the importance of responsible drinking.

Events

• Coming soon!