The original and the biggest gin-themed social media challenge is back for its fifth year running! In 2019, #GinADayMay’s inaugural year, in excess of 4,000 images were posted on Instagram using the #GinADayMay hashtag, averaging at approximately 135 posts a day. With consistent global engagement ever since, there are now almost 22,000 tagged posts on Instagram and I’m hoping for another successful year in 2023.

The focus will remain, as ever, on our favourite juniper-based spirit and the wonderful gin community, but with prompts such as Cheating on gin (May 5th) and Bar (May 26th) I hope you’ll find opportunities to support and celebrate other areas of the drinks industry too. If you’ve taken part before you’ll know what to do, so take a look at the prompts above – or better yet, save my post, and turn on notifications, on Instagram – and get your thinking caps on. If, on the other hand, this is all new to you, keep reading or watch this little video.

What is #GinADayMay?

#GinADayMay is a fun and light-hearted celebration of gin in the form of a 31-day social media challenge. The aim is to promote and build the gin community online while encouraging collaboration, communication and creativity and helping participants find new accounts to follow (as well as hopefully gaining a few new followers for themselves). For those of you in the business, it will provide you with a valuable opportunity to showcase your brand and spirits (or those you admire) when everyone is looking at and engaging with the same hashtag.

Why should I take part?

Mainly to have fun! Although there are other reasons too. If you’re running out of ideas or content, then joining a social media challenge such as this one can offer inspiration and help you get into the habit of posting regularly. It’s a great way to find new accounts to follow and will hopefully win you some new followers of your own as well.

How do I take part?

To take part simply post a picture or reel on Instagram that relates to the daily theme (as listed above with weekends highlighted in bold) and include the hashtag #GinADayMay. It’s up to you when and how you take part; you certainly don’t have to post everyday and you don’t have to worry if you miss a day here and there.

The most important thing is to be creative. Take day 5: Cheating on gin. Looking at some examples from previous years, there are a lots of ways to feature your other favourite tipple; and I particularly love the creativity with which @ilgin.it and @thetealbar conveyed the concept! Your post is more likely to stand out if you try something a little bit different, so think outside the box. And don’t forget to look at other people’s posts too and comment on the ones you like; it all helps build and support both your profile and our gin community online.

^{Clockwise from top left: @ilgin.it, @tristan.jorgensen_, @willowwilson, @thetealbar}

Do I have to drink every day in May?!

Absolutely not! #GinADayMay is a social media challenge not a drinking challenge. Many of the prompts (such as Bottle, Upcycle and Book) are designed so it’s not necessary to make a drink let alone consume one.

What next?

The challenge starts on 1 May but it’s definitely not too early to start planning your content. If you need some inspiration check out one of my recaps here. You can also follow me on Instagram for regular reminders, and remember the more people who join in, the bigger and better it will be, so tell your friends, share the prompts and follow the hashtag.

Finally, and most importantly, please drink responsibly, please be kind and supportive and please have fun!