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Choose Books over Booze - top 'Quit Lit' titles and resources for anyone looking to take a break from alcohol 

At Manchester Libraries, we have a range of print and electronic books to help you explore your relationship with alcohol.  We've partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University and organisations such as Alcohol Change and Hinterland (based in Manchester) to bring you a selection of recommended titles.

You can find many of these books on the shelf in the Health section in City library, or on our display stand throughout January.  You can also reserve books for collection at your branch. If you can't get to a branch, we have eBooks and eAudiobooks too that you can download to your phone or tablet from home. If you're not already a member of Manchester Libraries, it's free to join - you can use the 'Join the Library' link at the top of this page.

Resources

The Dry January® Challenge resources https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january-in-your-community ​ ​

How ‘Dry January®’ is the secret to better sleep, saving money and losing weight https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/47131  ​ ​

The Dry January® Challenge Mythbuster https://alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/dry-january-mythbuster 

More ideas for books, podcasts and social media channels: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/top-quit-lit-books-and-resources-for-anyone-looking-to-take-a-break-from-booze 

Bee Sober - a local non-profit community organisation providing support and connection https://www.beesoberofficial.com/join-bee-sober/join-our-community/ 

Bee Sober Sober Experiment: https://www.beesoberofficial.com/join-the-sober-experiment/ 

Alcoholics Anonymous: National website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk Manchester local website: www.manchestermeetingslist.com Manchester Telephone service: 0161 839 2881 (11am - 10pm)

Soberistas: https://soberistas.com/home

Support for students:

Drugs and alcohol: Self-help | Manchester Metropolitan University

Student substance use harm reduction commitment | Manchester Metropolitan University

Counselling, mental health and wellbeing | Manchester Metropolitan University  

Peer to peer support | Manchester Metropolitan University

Events

  • There will be stall in Manchester Central Library on the ground floor near the café on Saturday's in January, starting on Saturday 17th January 2026, promoting the new titles in our book collection and there will be representation from organisations in the Manchester area that can offer support and guidance.
  • "The Temperance Movement: What Did #QuitLit Look Like 100 Years Ago?" Join us for our teatime talk on the Temperance movement taking place on Tuesday 27th Jan 2026 at 6pm in Manchester Central Library featuring Dr Annemarie McAllister Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Lancashire  - book your free spot on Eventbrite
  • Located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Hinterland is an alcohol-free bar, vegan café, and creative community hub offering a calmer, more intentional alternative to the traditional bar scene. Here, conversation flows easily, creativity is encouraged, and everyone is welcome exactly as they are. Whether you’re curious, sober, sober-curious, or simply looking for something different, Hinterland is a welcoming space to slow down, connect, and explore - together.

What is quit lit?

Quit lit (short for quitting literature) is a growing collection of books and media that helps people think about and take steps to change their relationship with alcohol or other substances. It includes real-life stories, practical advice, and easy-to-understand information, as well as podcasts, blogs, videos, and guided activities. Quit Lit can support anyone who is taking a break from drinking, extending a dry period, or choosing to step into an alcohol-free life.

Why quit lit matters

Quit Lit matters because it offers people accessible, non-judgemental ways to reflect on their drinking and make informed choices about change. By reading the combined personal stories with practical insight, it helps reduce stigma, challenges long-held social norms around alcohol, and provides reassurance that questioning drinking is valid, shared and a positive step.  From the early findings of my research and my own experience working in online sober communities, quit lit frequently acts as a gentle and supportive first step. For many people - especially those facing barriers to clinical support - it can offer space to reflect, question, and reassess their relationship with alcohol, with the potential to support initial moves towards an alcohol-free life.

Explore the Archives

Are you interested in the history of the temperance movement?  Explore these resources to find out more:

Did you know that Vimto was first created in Manchester in 1908 by John Noel Nichols, a wholesaler of herbs, spices and medicines, and its origins have links to the temperance movement?

Explore the Manchester Libraries image collections here - https://images.manchester.gov.uk/collections/?s=temperance&filter[subject.summary.title.keyword][]=Temperance