For many, the Dry January movement is a way to begin the new year clear-headed, healthier and more mindful while abstaining from alcohol throughout the month. But for those fighting substance dependency, learning to abstain from alcohol is a lifelong process, and one where outside support is essential.
To destigmatize substance use disorder while supporting local restaurants, local nonprofit Meta House is launching a month-long Dry January campaign where participants can keep to their Dry January goals while discovering exciting new nonalcoholic beverages and ease the road to recovery for women and families struggling with addiction.
Throughout January, 20 participating bars and restaurants will offer special nonalcoholic beverages, with portions or all of the proceeds going to Meta House. The organization serves between 300 and 500 women and about 175 children each year through its programs, including inpatient/residential treatment, outpatient treatment and recovery housing. It’s one of the only treatment providers in Wisconsin to allow women to bring their children into the residential treatment program so mother and child can heal simultaneously.
The Dry January campaign will support Meta House’s $35 million Project Horizon, a campus development and relocation initiative that, at 100,000 square feet, will double the capacity of its residential treatment program to 100 beds and expand the on-site services clients can access.
“Over the years, we’ve had chronic waitlists of about three to six months to access the residential level of care, and we know that when women reach out for help to address their substance use disorder, we need to be able to meet that need or request right away,” said Sarah Koehn, Meta House director of philanthropy and marketing. “Project Horizon is meant to address the capacity issues that we’re seeing statewide.”
Construction of the new campus at 3901 W. Blue Mound Rd. is about 70% complete, and the campus is expected to open this fall. Meta House needs just $2.9 million to complete the project and hopes its Dry January initiative can help it reach that goal.
How to participate in Meta House’s Dry January initiative
All you have to do to help is visit a participating restaurant and order its featured mocktail or nonalcoholic beverage. Like at pizza parlor Flour Girl & Flame, 8121 W. National Ave. in West Allis, which is offering the Dr. Pepper is a Woman mocktail, made with Dr. Pepper, brown butter whip, cracked black pepper, shaved nutmeg, cinnamon and hot honey. And Shorewood’s Cloud Red, 4488 N. Oakland Ave., will be featuring its Lavender Haze, crafted with Empress nonalcoholic gin, house-made lavender mint simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and topped with nonalcoholic sparkling wine.
“We’re really excited to be partnering with these restaurants, particularly in this challenging economic environment where a lot of them are struggling,” Koehn said. “We’ve had a whole lot of small business closures in the past month or so in Milwaukee, so we feel really fortunate that even despite all the challenges, these businesses and restaurant owners have prioritized Meta House in this way.”
To help Meta House’s cause this month, visit any of these local restaurants and bars:
Aside from serving specialty mocktails this month, two participating restaurants are throwing Dry January socials in honor of Meta House’s campaign.
Cloud Red will host its social from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15, and Flour Girl & Flame will host its pizza-and-mocktail social from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 22. All are welcome to both socials.
And on Jan. 24, Lupi & Iris will donate a portion of the sales from its annual Mocktail Dinner to Meta House. The dinner features a five-course meal, each course paired with a thoughtfully crafted nonalcoholic beverage. Tickets are $100 per person (plus taxes and fees). For more information, visit lupiandiris.com.
Meta House will highlight Dry January partnerships and featured drinks throughout the month. Stay up-to-date by following Meta House on social media at facebook.com/metahouse or instagram.com/metahouse1963.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Restaurants serving special mocktails during Dry January for Meta House
Reporting by Rachel Bernhard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
