Look at These Gleeful People Taking Their First Drink After a Month of Sobriety

Alright, now it's the 2nd of February, GMT day time, which means if you actually managed to do Dry January, last night was the Big British Blow Out. Your chance to finally wrap your slender, healthy fingers around a bottle of Sauvignon after a month of nothing but flat Diet Coke.

Even though I didn't take up the challenge (because cba), plenty of you did. For health reasons, losing weight, not having a red face like a plum, because you're really poor after spending all your wages on Christmas drugs or because if fucking Becky from work can do it then so can you.

We asked people to document their first night back on the booze train; their downwards tumble into routine apathy, social convention and shit hangover-ruining weekends, with a picture of their first drink. Then we got them to take another selfie after they'd sunk a few a were properly smashed. Look how happy they all are, thank you alcohol!

VICE: Why did you want to do Dry Jan?
Tiana: After New Year's Eve I was tired of feeling shit all the time and wanted to feel sane again.

Sanity is a bit overrated.
I didn't find it that difficult as it was something that I really wanted to do and I saw the results quite quickly. Not drinking helped me achieve all the other vague New years resolutions I wanted to achieve so that was encouraging.

Do you feel like a new woman now?
I feel better in general but drinking now makes me feel more guilty than before.

VICE: Why did you want to do Dry Jan?
Alexandra: I just felt like I wasn't really getting anything out of alcohol despite drinking it a lot.

How did you do?
To be honest I think I would have found it a lot harder if I had chosen a random month. A few of my friends were doing it too which made it easier, and nobody was going out on big nights after the New Year boozathon. They all caved after a couple of weeks in but I was determined now that I'd come that far to make it to the end. Having said that, I never want to drink Diet Coke ever again.

How did you have sex without booze?
Well it's a lot better as an overall package. I think most girls can't orgasm when they're pissed, so it was way better in this respect. I did have less energy after a night out though so I wouldn't say the initiation of sex was as frenzied as it usually is when you get in after a few bottles of wine and feel like you're Rihanna and you're going to do some experimental stuff because you have zero inhibitions.

VICE: How did you achieve this great feat?
Kate: It was surprisingly easy and I will try and continue majorly cutting down just getting drunk once or twice a week. I've spent much less and go to the gym four times a week.

How did you get freaky without booze?
Sadly, it's very rare that I have sex but I did have a really nice sober date which wasn't awkward at all as the guy was really chatty and interesting. But if the date had been crap, I would have just gone home and not stayed getting drunk to try and make him interesting then probably regretting it in the morning.

Do you feel amazing about yourself now?
I'm really proud of myself despite not having the weight loss results I would have expected. I will say it's been easier as it's January and everyone's skint and wants to hibernate so it's an easy month to do it in. I never thought I could do it but I'm hoping I will drink a lot less this year, being more productive, healthier and be able to save more money.

VICE: Why did you want to do it?
Thomas: Because I've never done it before and wanted to see what would happen. Turns out nothing happens.

How did you manage the whole month with zero booze?
The first half of the month was easy. Then everyone gave up halfway through and it got harder. Generally I drank a lot of lemonade.

How did you have sex without it?
The usual way. Do you feel better or worse about yourself now it's all over?
I'd say better, but my alcohol resistance must be pathetic right now.

VICE: Why did you want to do it?
Barbara: I started to find it a bit depressing that most social occasions are built around drinking so I wanted to see if I could do all the same stuff sober without falling asleep at 10pm or beginning to hate all my friends.

How did you manage it to this point?
Luckily, January didn't feature many alcohol-necessary occasions. Dinners, pubs, and most social events with people you already know were all fine. I occasionally thought I was drunk because it turns out you naturally relax and enjoy yourself at stuff like that, even without booze. One side effect of not drinking was I slept much better, so I also didn't get the "need a wine to stay awake" feeling at 7pm every day.

How did you have sex?
Um, the same as always? I didn't need to go on any first dates, which was helpful. I'd imagine they're horribly painful sober.

How are you feeling now it's all over?
It was heartening to remember that socialising is actually enjoyable on its own, until people start chucking chairs around and you're forced to face the sober night bus ride home.

How did you manage it to this point?
Will power and having friends and family support me.

How did you do it without booze?
Nothing changed, however alcohol does sometimes help with nerves. Do you feel better or worse about yourself now it's all over?
I feel so much better, I've lost weight, saved money and generally have more energy. Apart from now I went out last night.

More getting smashed on VICE:

How Britain Gets Pissed Compared to the Rest of the World

Vomit, Tears and Endless Fingering: Newquay Is a British Rite of Passage

We Got Wasted then Tested Out a Herbal Remedy that Claims to Sober You Up