Or perhaps you should consider the possibility that your problem is more serious than you think.

But this month he’ll only be buying nips

If 'dry' January sounds daunting, try 'damp' January instead

Every year thousands of people take part in the Dry January sobriety challenge to improve their health and regain control of their drinking. But if you can't commit to a full month of abstinence, take heart: You don't have to go cold turkey to improve your relationship with alcohol.

A semi-dry ritual dubbed "Damp January" has become an annual event for people who want to cut back on alcohol without giving it up entirely.

… There's not one best way to do the Damp January challenge. Here are some ways to cut back on alcohol.

-Special occasion drinking: Avoid drinking for the month of January except for special occasions, like a wedding, birthday party or anniversary celebration.

-Add more dry days to your month: Reduce the number of days you drink during January.

-Consume fewer drinks in a setting: For a month, cut back on the amount you drink on each occasion. If you regularly have two or more glasses of wine with dinner, for instance, commit to just one drink per sitting.

-A combination approach: Experts say it's best to reduce the number of days you drink and the amount that you drink on each occasion. You can set a goal to have a specific number of dry days each week and fewer servings on the days that you drink. You can drink only at special events or be sober on special occasions. Pick the strategy that works for you.

Sometimes, attempts to control one’s drinking can signify a problem deeper than just a few overindulgences at parties or occasional Saturday nights; committing to a full month of conscious effort to achieve that control suggests that there might be a problem brewing. Someone who knew personally about his own, failed attempts to limit his drinking had this to say about the topic way back in 1939:

I’d add “cutting down for a month” to that list.