Klaus Eckel mocks ‘Dry January’ with a cheeky sobriety twist in new book

Austrian cabaret artist and writer Klaus Eckel has taken a light-hearted yet critical look at the trend of giving up alcohol. In his latest book, I Wouldn’t Want to Live in My Own Head, he questions the timing of ‘Dry January’ and suggests a few unconventional alternatives. His comments come as public figures, including the governor of Salzburg, embrace sobriety for the new year.

Eckel admits his own relationship with alcohol has changed over time. Where he once handled drinks easily, two glasses of Mon Chéries liqueur now leave him with a three-day hangover. This growing intolerance has led him to joke that even watching rum truffles on television might soon count as drunk driving.

The author also highlights how abstinence can create unexpected tensions. Recovered alcoholics and winemakers, for instance, often find themselves on opposite sides of the debate. Even among those who support sobriety, opinions vary—staff at homeless shelters and women’s refuges, he notes, rarely celebrate the idea of cutting out alcohol entirely. Rather than sticking to the traditional ‘Dry January’, Eckel proposes shifting it to February—or, for seasoned drinkers, trying ‘Dry Sleeping’ instead. His playful take follows broader discussions on alcohol in Austria, where journalist Armin Wolf recently shared his own decision to quit drinking in spring 2024. In a January 2026 article, Wolf reflected on how political and societal divides in Austria, Germany, and Europe shaped his views during his younger years.

Eckel’s book blends humour with sharp observations about modern drinking culture. His suggestions, though tongue-in-cheek, point to real divisions over alcohol’s role in society. Meanwhile, public figures continue to debate whether sobriety is a personal choice or a wider cultural shift.