Dry July 2027: how to do it
Dry July started in Australia in 2008 and now runs in New Zealand too. Here is the history, the 2027 dates and a plan, whether July is winter or summer where you are.
Dry July is a month without alcohol in July that raises money for cancer services. It began in Australia in 2008, when three friends gave up alcohol for a month to raise money for their local hospital; the first year raised over $250,000, it expanded to New Zealand in 2012, and the foundation says it has raised more than $90 million [1]. In 2027 it runs from Thursday 1 to Saturday 31 July. A month off is the best-studied break: one study found falls in insulin resistance, blood pressure and weight [2].
Safety first
Track it in Sober Girl
Where Dry July came from
Dry July started in Australia in 2008. Phil Grove, Brett Macdonald and Kenny McGilvary pledged to give up alcohol for a month to raise money for their local hospital. More than 1,000 people signed up in the first year and it raised over $250,000. It expanded to New Zealand in 2012 [1].
Participants choose a cancer service to receive their donations, and the Dry July Foundation claimed in 2024 to have raised more than $90 million for people affected by cancer [1]. These figures come from Wikipedia, a secondary source, because the foundation’s own site blocked our automated check. Check dryjuly.com for current figures.
Dry July 2027 dates
| Dry July 2027 | |
|---|---|
| Starts | Thursday 1 July 2027 |
| Ends | Saturday 31 July 2027 |
| Length | 31 days |
| Weekends | Five Saturdays |
| Season | Winter in Australia and New Zealand, summer in the northern hemisphere |
A plan for 31 days
If July is winter where you are
Cold, dark evenings are when a warming drink feels most like a habit. Plan replacements you actually like, something hot after dinner, and one evening a week out of the house. Our sleep after quitting alcohol guide helps with the long nights.
If July is summer where you are
Barbecues, holidays and long light evenings are the test. Bring your own drinks to everything, have a line ready, and plan what you will do at the time you would usually have a drink outside. See what to do instead of drinking.
Either way
- Plan the first and last weekends especially. July 2027 starts on a Thursday, so the first weekend arrives on day three.
- If you are fundraising, donate your weekly savings as you go.
- Decide about August before 31 July.
What a month off can do
In a BMJ Open study, 94 people who stopped drinking for a month saw insulin resistance fall 25.9%, systolic blood pressure 6.6% and weight 1.5% [2]. It was observational and excluded people with alcohol dependence. In a survey of Dry January participants, 86% said they saved money and 70% slept better [5].
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 Dry July 2027?
From Thursday 1 July to Saturday 31 July 2027: 31 days.
Who started Dry July?
Three friends in Australia in 2008, who gave up alcohol for a month to raise money for their local hospital. It expanded to New Zealand in 2012.
What does Dry July raise money for?
Cancer services. Participants choose a cancer organisation to receive their donations.
Can I do Dry July outside Australia?
Yes. Anyone can take July off alcohol. The official fundraiser is focused on Australia and New Zealand.
Sources
- Dry July. Wikipedia (secondary source). The Dry July Foundation site blocked our automated check.
- 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.
- The evidence behind the Dry January challenge: benefits and long-term impact. Alcohol Change UK, summarising evaluations by Dr Richard de Visser, University of Sussex. Self-reported results from people who signed up to Dry January, not a controlled trial.
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.