While New Year’s resolutions frequently involve promises of eating less, giving back more or finally kicking that terrible habit, if you’re not ditching booze altogether it might be the best time to take a look at your beverage routines and question whether they are in need of a shake-up of their own. If you think about your purchasing, education and consumption rituals and realize that you have not bought anything different, learned anything new or shared anything spectacular with friends or family, then you might in fact be stuck in a drink rut. Lucky for you, I’m here to help; adopting these 5 simple and fantastic resolutions is certain to spice up your consumption lifestyle, liberating you from monotony and reminding you about all of the possibilities and pleasures you once yearned to find in the world of fine wine and craft beer. Here’s to a happy, healthy and fun new year!

1) Try Something New
People frequently get stuck buying the same wine or beer over and over again because we become familiar with a wine region or the quality of a specific producer and are comfortable with the accompanying price. This year, break away from that Cult Napa Cab, Australian Best Buy, favorite IPA or fizzy yellow cheap stuff to try and find something new and different. Do some ratings research to determine other established and respected producers. Venture to value regions such as France’s Languedoc and South Africa’s Western Cape to discover your new favorite everyday wine. Instead of going for that case of pale ale, try a sample pack with some new beer styles you haven’t tried before. There’s so much fantastic stuff available in the wine and beer worlds, why would you ever want to limit yourself? Be brave, and you might just be surprised at what you find!

2) Remember Your Successes
One of the largest obstacles that people come across is remembering what delicious beverage was consumed at that friend’s party last week or even with last night’s dinner. Not everyone has a photographic memory, and remembering names of producers (especially some of those vowel-heavy Belgian brewery names) can be tricky business, especially if you’re newer to the drink’s scene. Getting a journal can be a big help with this task; I recommend keeping a larger journal in the house that allows you to paste wine or beer labels next to the item description and a smaller travel journal in your car or purse for when you’re out and about. These days, there are also tons of applications that you can download to your iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, etc that will keep this list electronically for you (like Wine Enthusiast’s app available here). It’ll also be extremely handy next time you go shopping.

3) Broaden your Knowledge
One of the great things about this industry is that there is always something new to learn. Whether you are a connoisseur looking to know even more about your favorite beverage or a casual drinker that wants to be more confident in your food and drink pairings, it’s always a great idea to go back to school. There are a wide variety of education centers and universities that offer classes to interested individuals at all levels of experience and expertise. Learning more will not only enhance your appreciation, but will also make you feel more secure selecting a libation while shopping or dining. The International Wine Center (WSET) and Cicerone programs both offer convenient online options definitely worth checking out.

4) Share the Wealth
With your great new discoveries and broader knowledge, it’s time to get the friends and family involved. Be sure to share all of your new findings with the ones you love. And, for those of you who have been holding on to a certain bottle for that “special occasion,” rethink your idea of what a special occasion is—maybe it’s just anytime you are fortunate enough to be surrounded by good company and conversation. Yes, I know, I’ve brought up this topic before, but there’s truly nothing like a good bottle to bring people together for an unforgettable experience.

5) Most Importantly, HAVE FUN!
Don’t get caught up in price tags and labels. Change up typical pairings. Reach out to places unknown.  Buy a bottle that you know nothing about just for the learning experience. Remember that fine drink is something to be shared with those you love to bring pleasure and relaxation, not consumed alone in a basement cellar. Celebrate life and all of the joys that it brings. There’s endless potential out there to find great wine and beer; this year, be proactive in that search and become the true enthusiast you know you are!

Sound good to you? Have something to add? I’d love to hear how you’re going to shake things up for 2010…