Column: Aurora Celebrates Dry January by Participating in Sobriety Initiative

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Similar to many in the Fox Valley, I celebrated this holiday season by raising several toasts and, in fact, found myself attending more gatherings than usual during my year-end break.

However, I don't particularly enjoy alcohol. My father passed away due to excessive drinking, and you might recall a special feature from Copley Newspapers in 1997 that included my name, titled "Generations Under the Influence." This piece delved into my personal experiences, accompanied by the stunning photography of Brian Plonka, highlighting the complex relationship our society has with alcohol.

That’s why I felt both delighted and curious when I discovered that the city of Aurora was embracing the “Dry January” movement. I sincerely hope that more individuals will join in this initiative as a means of contemplating the impact alcohol has on our lives.

While some may view Aurora's announcement as merely a publicity stunt, I believe it holds significant importance.

And it’s certainly appropriate, given that the U.S. surgeon general recently made waves by declaring an undeniable connection between alcohol and cancer, which justifies the implementation of warning labels on all alcoholic drinks.

Certainly timely, but city officials maintain that Dr. Vivek Murthy’s announcement was merely coincidental, as arrangements had been made a week in advance to promote a city-sponsored Dry January.

City spokesperson Clayton Muhammad stated that it was the professional connections that Invest Aurora CEO Kelly O’Brien forged with Dr. Michael Caldwell, the chief medical officer at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, which initiated the process.

In January 2023, Meharry, one of the four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that offer medical programs in the United States, was designated as the official U.S. headquarters for the International Dry January Campaign. This initiative, which originated in Great Britain more than ten years ago, has recently gained traction in cities like Nashville, Philadelphia, Chicago, and now Aurora. In a show of support, Aurora illuminated the Pedestrian Bridge over the Fox River i