The whole purpose of avoiding alcohol while in recovery (only my opinion) is to avoid consuming something that will trigger cravings and start the whole craving/obsession/craving cycle over again. This threshold is going to be different for everyone. I have no problem taking Nyquil when I'm very sick or taking a sip of wine once in while during communion at church because neither of these things initiates craving. Would I take a sip of NA beer? No way. Because that probably would. Some folks aren't comfortable doing what I do, and that's fine. They're protecting their recovery as they see fit. The point is, it's different for everyone. If a fellow recovering alcoholic tells me I'm not really sober for doing what I do, that's only their opinion, and I don't have to care what they think. I know what works for me, and that's all that matters.