Notices

Alchol free beer??

Old 08-30-2008, 08:34 AM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: midwest
Posts: 3
Alchol free beer??

Hi,

I'm sober about 3 weeks now (**self-back pat :O). So far I've mostly just lurked at this site and find it very inspirational and comforting.

I go to meetings and am in an out-patient group. I drank about a pint of gin a day for years. I feel somewhat guilty cause my withdrawl was relatively easy -couple of nights of insomnia - especially compared to the hell some of you have been through. Also, I worry that an easy withdrawl may lead me to thinking some day that I can be a normal drinker.

I've drank a few alcohol free beers since quitting. Why? Because I like the taste and it's comforting to me in some twisted way. When I told my group this, you could feel the air being sucked out of the room. Mainly from our group leader, you'd think I'd admited to performing a human sacrifice!

I'd like to hear your opinion and advise on this subject. I'm blown away that I've gone this long without drinking and didn't think drinking fake beer was any big deal.

Have a great holiday (in the USA) week-end! It's 75 degrees here, my windows are wide open...breeze going thru the house...dogs asleep/not barking...I'm sober...life is good...

Rosie
Rosiebud56 is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 08:57 AM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Anna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,329
Well, I believe alcohol-free beer actually has alcohol in it.

And, for me, it's the routine of it all. I no longer use wine glasses for anything. I'd just rather not. They bring back memories of a different time and I have moved on.
Anna is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 08:59 AM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 333
I too find that I enjoy alcohol free beer and it really doesn't make me want to go back to drinking alcohol.

Personal choice I would have thought?

sas
Coolmummy is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 09:19 AM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Life the gift of recovery!
 
nandm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Home is where the heart is
Posts: 7,061
For an example of why alcohol "free" beer might not be a good choice please see the thread "A beer by mistake" located in our alcoholism 12 step forum. I personally stay away from it as I don't feel that I need the reminder of what a cold beer tastes like on a hot day. To me it would wind up eventually (it might take a few years) wind up leading me back to a drink. I say that because I spent a year just drinking alcohol "free" beer and it did lead me right back to drinking.
nandm is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 09:23 AM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Knucklehead
 
doorknob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
I can understand how it could be a psychological trigger for some. As far as alcohol content, it has about the same as orange juice.
doorknob is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:24 PM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
 
CarolD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Welcome to our SR Alcoholism forum...

For me...if I delibertly choose to drink or eat
food with alcohol....I would be compelled to
re start my date of sobriety.
Because I would be cheating myself and my recovery.

Good to know you are working for a sober life..

This subject gets a lot of hot dscussion
Here is a link to the last one

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...r-mistake.html
CarolD is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:29 PM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Knucklehead
 
doorknob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
Would you really reset you sobriety date over a glass of OJ? Just curious...
doorknob is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:30 PM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 15
I have drunk 6 alcohol free beers during the past week. They are Cobra 0.0% and taste good. I have not drunk alcohol and am still as determined as ever to not drink. 'Low' alcohol beer has alcohol in it. In the Uk at least, Alcohol 'Free' beer does not, to the best of my knowledge...
ytytyt is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:44 PM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Knucklehead
 
doorknob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
Yeah, the US and the UK have different qualifications:

In the United States, beverages containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) can be legally called non-alcoholic according to the Volstead Act. Due to the extremely low alcohol content present in various brands of "NA" (non-alcoholic) beer, the sale to minors and adults under age 21 is legal in most states.[1]

In the UK the following descriptions apply by law (correct at May 2007):[2]


No alcohol/alcohol free: not more than 0.05% ABV
Dealcoholised: over 0.05% and under 0.5% ABV
Low alcohol: not more than 1.2% ABV
Low-alcohol beer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's another good link:

NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER
doorknob is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:47 PM
  # 10 (permalink)  
I'm just a little unwell
 
TryingSoHard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 2,219
OJ has alcohol?
TryingSoHard is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:51 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Knucklehead
 
doorknob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
About the same as NA beer, between .2 and .5%.
doorknob is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:54 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
I'm just a little unwell
 
TryingSoHard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 2,219
I never knew that. Huh.
TryingSoHard is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:55 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
 
December15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Brighton UK
Posts: 328
Even bread can have trace alcohol in it. I see no harm in alcohol free(mostly) beer, but I think it is an individual thing. It may induce some into the full flavoured variety. If you went on a 7 day alcohol free beer bender you would probably end up bloated but wouldn't experience any of the other ravages of a typical bender.
December15 is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 01:56 PM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Knucklehead
 
doorknob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
You wouldn't physically be capable of drinking enough in a short enough period of time to produce any effect.
doorknob is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 02:05 PM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,044
OJ has alcohol?
Not according to the USDA nutritional database

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

D
Dee74 is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 02:22 PM
  # 16 (permalink)  
Member
 
digderidoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 600
Welcome to SR rosiebud.

I think it is a matter of whatever works for you. It could have a psychological effect for you in that it makes you feel as though you are not missing out on drinking.

For me though i couldn't drink it. My favourite drink was lager, so to drink beer with no alcohol in it would just remind me of the beer. I personally do not see the point in drinking it, i never liked drinking lesser strength beers so i know i wouldn't enjoy na beer.

I do drink lots of lemonade from a pint glass though, the kind you find in uk pubs. It's a bit of a psychological things for me. I always had a pint by my side so it's more of a comfort thing.

I can understand why some would want na beer, i think it's a case of whatever works for you!

Paul
digderidoo is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 02:24 PM
  # 17 (permalink)  
Knucklehead
 
doorknob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
Hmmm...

Here's an excerpt from the above link:

Additionally, according to a report published by Indiana
University, a standard glass of orange juice contains between
.2% and .5% alcohol. Six glasses of orange juice could
theoretically create the same culpability in a minor as six
bottles of non-alcoholic beer.
doorknob is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 02:25 PM
  # 18 (permalink)  
ever closer...
 
beingjenagain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 361
I think that early in recovery near beer or alcohol free beer is playing with fire if you were a beer drinker. I would never be able to drink it because I was a serious beer drinker. My Dad is 25+ years sober and I do recall him having a NA beer every once in a while. I could have a virgin daquari or margarita or the like because I never drank them. I actually made a pitcher of on the rocks ritas with lime ade and grenadine and fresh strawberries and enjoyed it this summer without any trouble, but I had trouble that day even looking at a beer bottle!
So I guess everyone is different but I wouldn't be willing to tempt myself at this point.
beingjenagain is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 02:29 PM
  # 19 (permalink)  
Knucklehead
 
doorknob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
I remember the first time I tried to quit.. I went to the store for something else to drink and everything I came home with was in a brown bottle, LOL!
doorknob is offline  
Old 08-30-2008, 02:31 PM
  # 20 (permalink)  
Perfectly Flawed
 
JigOvLife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Republic of Yorkshire
Posts: 481
I don't need reminding of how good beer can taste. 60 days sober today and I'm still quite precious over my sobriety.
JigOvLife is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:12 PM.