Having a Gap Month — Make Dry July the Best Month of Your Year

Lifestyle · Dry July

Having a Gap Month — Make Dry July the Best Month of Your Year

Without doing — and thinking about — booze, you get a lot more time in your day. The impact of your gap month reveals itself early, and the progress is intoxicating. All you need to do is commit to your intentions and give all that extra oxygen to your new habits.

This is a founder's story: our own Grant started Dry July back in 2020, hasn't stopped, and life keeps getting better. Here's what he learned — and the exact month plan that makes it stick.

The Extra Hours Nobody Tells You About

The big learning: without the booze you get extra hours in the day, and work-wise you'll be noticeably more productive. Like Grant, you'll probably find yourself wide awake and ready to go by 6am. Use it. At the other end of the day, swap the evening fog for exercise and a stroll.

Fair warning — the first few days feel a bit weird being this awake. What's weirder is that you'll likely sleep better than you have in ages. Then on August 1, have a chat with yourself and look at the facts: what changed over the month? Do you feel better, different, energised? You may find out a few things about yourself you didn't expect.

The Gap Month Planner — 31 Days, Sorted

July flies by — there are only four weekends. That's four hangover-free Saturdays and Sundays. Sounds like the time to join your local ParkRun for an 8am 5k, or take in the sights and smells of a weekend market. Print a calendar or set up a month planner, and watch the days fill up:

  • Weekend plans — fill in all four weekends. That's 8 days sorted.
  • A gym class or walk/run mid-week — takes you to 12 days.
  • Booze-free date night or a friend feast weekly — 16 days.
  • Movie night every Friday — 20 days.
  • One super treat — a massage, something really fantastic — 21 days.
  • A new hobby or evening class weekly — 25 days.
  • 6 days left to relax (or clean the garage!) — and voilà, there's the month gone.

July is a great month to build new habits, try things for the first time, or re-acquaint yourself with old hobbies. A few starters: morning mid-winter walks and hikes, a community evening class — or a non-alc beer tasting night (State of Play would love to be invited — a mixed case of all six brews makes the perfect line-up).

Save the Date to Celebrate

July 18 — The Day Most People Quit

Statistically, July 18 is the date most people give up on Dry July. We're turning the dark day into the brightest one: plan a mid-month celebration for the 18th. A feast, a movie, a tasting night — what's yours going to be?

Better Together — Share Your Gap Month

Invite your partner, friends and family. Everyone has different motivations and goals, but we all share the same number of days in the month. You'll also be supporting Dry July and the awesome work it does raising awareness and funds for people affected by cancer — while doing it for you.

And if you're wondering whether beer can come along for the ride: naturally brewed zeros mean you don't have to give up the ritual to give up the alcohol. That's rather the point of us. New to the idea? Start with how non-alcoholic beer is actually made — or cut straight to the best non-alc beers in NZ.

Stock the Fridge for July

Pick any 4 six packs and build your own 24-box of award-winning zero beer. Free shipping over $100, delivered NZ-wide.

→ Build a Box

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink non-alcoholic beer during Dry July?
That's your call to make. Many participants include zero-alcohol drinks as part of their month — it keeps the ritual without the alcohol — while others prefer to go completely dry. If you're fundraising through the official Dry July campaign, check the approach that fits your own goals and commitments.

What's the hardest day of Dry July?
Statistically, July 18 is when most people quit — just past the halfway hump. Plan something to look forward to on the 18th and you'll sail through it.

What should I do instead of drinking in July?
Fill the calendar first: weekend plans, one mid-week class, a weekly booze-free dinner, Friday movie nights, one big treat, and a new hobby. Do that and there are only six unplanned days left in the whole month.

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