Giving up alcohol for Lent 2027
Lent is one of the oldest reasons people take a break from drinking. Here are the 2027 dates, the Sunday question, and a plan for six and a half weeks.
In 2027, Lent runs from Ash Wednesday, 10 February, to Holy Saturday, 27 March, the day before Easter Sunday (28 March), in Western churches. That is 46 days, or 40 if you take the six Sundays off, as many people who give something up for Lent do. Either way it is longer than a month, the best-studied break: in a BMJ Open study, a month without alcohol lowered insulin resistance by 25.9% and systolic blood pressure by 6.6% [1]. If you drink heavily, speak to a doctor before you stop.
Safety first
Track it in Sober Girl
Lent 2027 dates
| Lent 2027 | |
|---|---|
| Starts | Ash Wednesday, 10 February 2027 |
| Ends | Holy Saturday, 27 March 2027. Easter Sunday is 28 March |
| Length including Sundays | 46 days |
| Length without Sundays | 40 days |
| Overlaps | 19 days of Dry February (10 to 28 February) |
Do Sundays count?
This is the question everyone asks. The 40 days of Lent traditionally leave out Sundays, which is how 46 calendar days become 40. Many people who give something up treat Sundays as a day off from it. Others keep going straight through. There is no wrong answer, but decide before Ash Wednesday.
If your reason for giving up alcohol is your health rather than your faith, going straight through is simpler: one unbroken run of 46 days, and a clean count. If it is about practice and community, follow what your church or tradition does.
A plan for six and a half weeks
- Before Ash Wednesday: clear the house, choose the drink that replaces alcohol, and decide about Sundays.
- Weeks 1 and 2: treat it like any first fortnight. Plan evenings and weekends. See 1 week sober.
- Around day 30: you will pass the one-month mark, the best-studied milestone. See 30 days sober.
- Holy Week: the last week has its own social calendar. Plan Easter Sunday itself, especially if wine is usually on the table.
- After Easter: decide whether to carry on. Many people find the end of a fast is a good moment to keep going rather than go back.
Why Lent can be easier than a resolution
Lent has a clear start and end, a reason bigger than willpower for many people, and others doing something similar at the same time. That shared structure is a lot like what makes organised challenges such as Dry January work: Alcohol Change UK reports that most participants were still drinking less riskily six months later [4].
Is Sober Girl right for you?
- use an Android phone (the iPhone app is coming soon)
- want a private tracker, with your journal kept on your device
- want a day counter, money saved and a daily check-in in one calm place
- want a Craving SOS with a breathing exercise and a 10-minute timer
- want to start free and add Plus only if you need the journal, insights or milestone cards
- need it on an iPhone today (the App Store version is coming soon)
- want a community feed, live coaching or an AI chat
- want a structured multi-week education program
- need medical help for heavy drinking or withdrawal. An app is not treatment, so see the safety notes above
Frequently asked questions
When is Lent 2027?
In Western churches, from Ash Wednesday, 10 February 2027, to Holy Saturday, 27 March 2027. Easter Sunday is 28 March.
How many days is Lent without alcohol?
46 calendar days, or 40 if you take the six Sundays off.
Can I drink on Sundays during Lent?
Many people treat Sundays as a break from what they have given up, because the 40 days of Lent traditionally exclude Sundays. Others go straight through. Decide before you start.
Is giving up alcohol for Lent good for you?
A month without alcohol has measurable effects in research, including lower insulin resistance and blood pressure. Lent is longer than a month.
Sources
- Short-term abstinence from alcohol and changes in cardiovascular risk factors, liver function tests and cancer-related growth factors: a prospective observational study. Mehta G, Macdonald S, Cronberg A, et al. BMJ Open 2018;8:e020673. Observational study. 94 people who chose to abstain for a month and 47 who kept drinking.
- Alcohol withdrawal. MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine), reviewed 1 January 2025 by Frank D. Brodkey, MD.
- National Helpline. SAMHSA. Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral line: 1-800-662-4357.
- About Dry January. Alcohol Change UK.
How we write these. Every figure above links to the source it came from, and we label self-reported and observational results as such. Where we could not find a source we trust, the page says so instead of filling the gap. Sober Girl is made by ShipAI Lab and this is not medical advice. Sources were checked on 6 October 2026. If you spot an error, email us at integrateopenai@gmail.com.
Keep reading
Today is day one.
Sober Girl is a private sobriety tracker for women, on Android now and coming soon to iPhone: day counter, money saved, craving SOS and a tree that grows with you. Free to start.