Vacation without a hangover: Why alcohol-free travel is becoming increasingly popular!

Vacation without a hangover: Why alcohol-free travel is becoming increasingly popular!

More and more travelers are choosing to avoid alcohol during their vacation. This trend, increasingly outside of the well-known “Dry January”, is gaining popularity and is known as “dry tripping”. A look at the latest developments shows that cruise operators such as Aida Cruises are responding to this need and offering non-alcoholic drinks packages such as the “Fun” package. This is 60% cheaper than their alcoholic alternatives and includes drinks such as ginger ale, kombucha, elderflower syrup, iced tea as well as Virgin Hugo and milkshakes. In addition to Aida, shipping companies such as MSC, Princess Cruises, Holland America and Carnival also offer similar offers that encourage travelers to have an alcohol- and hangover-free vacation.

A survey by Expedia shows that 41% of respondents are interested in a detox trip. Avoiding alcohol while traveling has various advantages: Travelers can extend their activity cycle, start the day earlier and end it later. You also save around $160 per vacation.

Prices and regulations surrounding alcohol consumption

Particularly in certain countries, high alcohol prices can provide an additional incentive for travelers to choose not to drink alcohol. Prices are particularly high in Norway, Iceland and Finland, where beer and wine cost between 10 and 15 euros. In contrast, alcohol prices in Germany are 14% below the EU average. Information shows that even Finland has the highest prices at 110% above the EU average.

In the USA, particularly in states such as Utah and Arizona, the consumption and sale of alcohol is subject to strict regulations. For example, in Utah, alcoholic beverages are only available with a food order at restaurants. In addition, there are countries like Saudi Arabia where, with the ban on alcohol for non-Muslim diplomats and professionals, one can now speak of a certain relaxation of the ban. Plans for serving in international luxury hotels and resorts are also in the works, although these have not yet been officially confirmed.

The challenges of “Dry January”

The trend of abstaining from alcohol is primarily followed in January, a time that many people use to reconsider their own alcohol consumption. Dry January is a health trend that originated in the United Kingdom and aims to reduce alcohol consumption. However, this abstinence is not without risks, especially for people with alcohol problems. Addiction therapists warn that this month can be dangerous for those affected as it can lead to trivializing consumption.

According to the Barmer Replacement Fund, over 143,000 people with alcohol addiction were treated in Lower Saxony in 2023, although the number of unreported alcoholics who were probably untreated is even higher. Gerald Harsing, who has struggled with alcohol addiction for years, reported on personal relapses and the challenges of achieving stable abstinence. “Dry January” can be additionally stressful for such people, which is why therapeutic support is particularly important.