JohnnyZ

A few nights ago, I ordered a virgin bloody mary (with extra horseradish- yum!) before my dinner. The server either didn't hear me or misunderstood and asked if I wanted it with premium or standard bar vodka. I restated that I wanted it virgin and added (lightly) that I'd have a serious problem if my drink had any alcohol. It was my 77th day (I just calculated it) without a drop, and I intend to stay totally 100% alcohol-free forever. Some time later, I started thinking what if that drink was made with alcohol? I most likely would've had 2 to 3 heavy sips before realizing the alcohol. I'm sure I would not have taken another sip, but I sure as heck would've felt an alcohol buzz, and I probably would've been pretty upset (and maybe even scared).

I suppose the whole point, besides sharing this experience, is that I've realized that I need to be more careful and alert when ordering a normally-alcoholic drink without the alcohol. Short of carrying an alcohol test kit :-), I think the best thing to do is to make certain that the server clearly hears and understands my non-alcohol drink order. I really, really don't ever again want the slightest taste of alcohol and the slightest alcohol buzz...

NEOMARXIST

I just make it simple and order a "pint of Coca-Cola" and watch closely whilst it's being poured... Nice and simple.

Nettaja

I go with a lime and soda usually. I don't like drinking caffeine after about 4pm and trying to stay away from sugarry drinks so that counts out lemonade and orange juice etc. I suppose at least lime and soda with ice looks vaguely alcoholic so it doesn't stand out too much.

For me, mocktails are just asking for it.

JohnnyZ

>> For me, mocktails are just asking for it.

Yeah, I agree for the most part, however, a nice spicy virgin bloody mary before a nice dinner or an after-dinner orange-cranberry on ice adds a nice touch (treat) to the experience...

Usually though, my going-out drink is club soda with a couple of lemon wedges...

bananagrrrl

I order a Coke.

Straight up.

smacked

I don't order anything that reminds me of alcoholic drinks.. more for psychological comfort than worry about alcohol. I just choose not to flirt that closely with it..

I have yet to have a restaurant screw up and add alcohol to an "ice water" or "Dr. Pepper".

CarolD

My suggestion is....."Smell before you sip"
and Yes! you can smell vodka.

I've been a bartender and a server and I can
absolutely tell you it's easy to mix up an order.

Once I pre-mixed a gallon of Bloody Marys ....served
them all during lunch then discovered I had forgotten
the vodka. Not one customer complained....

c49

I gave up on White Grape Juice for that very reason. Sadly it reminded me of white wine. Even though I drank gallons of Vodka and very little wine I still had to let it go. It was opening an old door sort of speak...

baldjim

i just drink diet coke


yes i know the diet part is not working but i prefer the taste...honest

Boleo

For me root-BEER and ginger-ALE are as close to alcohol as I want to get.

sailorjohn

I just order a non-alcoholic beverage, iced tea or whatever. I don't try to hide the fact that I don't drink today. Had a weekend regatta about a month back, the awards were in the clubhouse, actually just a bar with a small dining area.

The very sweet barmaid made me a fresh pot of coffee!

shaun00

do you guys have floater coffees?

normally coffee in a tall glass with an inch of double cream floating on top...

some drink it with booze in ....so im very careful the barmaid hears me correct...

man i could drink these all day.......im sure each one takes a year off your life......you can literally hear the arteries hardening..lol.

i dont give barmaids my life history........just "please dont put booze in my drink"....period.

mariechi

Ask the server to repeat your order back to you. Then sniff when it gets there to make sure.

JohnnyZ

>> do you guys have floater coffees?
>> normally coffee in a tall glass with an inch of double cream floating on top...
>> some drink it with booze in ....

Sounds like an Irish Coffee (with Jameson whiskey).

JohnnyZ

Slight topic diversion- any thoughts on n/a beer?

ElegantlyWasted

Sounds like your subconscious is craving the real thing... Maybe next time ask for a tomato juice w/ tabasco, v8 etc. "2 or three sips w out noticing". Hungh!!!??? At least not for me; I've accidently sipped alcoholic drinks since I quit and know it immediatly If I dont smell it first. Had services at the church of the bloody Mary too many times and traded it in for a hp.

ElegantlyWasted

Na beer?? Why bother... Heard it tastes
bad and triggers some people
to binge. What is it... Like .5% alch ? I've heard of people slamming a 12 pack after taking a sip. Talk about
a
waste of calories!

Pinkcuda

Sure! Everyone says they are a stepping stone to the real thing. One thing that's overlooked is the fact that most people that drink the stuff are in bars drinking it. It's a recipie for disaster. The real question is "should we be in bars in early sobriety"? Let's say that my favorite drink was Bourbon and &7-Up, would I be tempting fate by drinking straight 7-Up? Probably not. If I was drinking straight 7-Up in a bar things would be different.

ElegantlyWasted

I also will say that having bartendended no one ever ordered a virgin bloody Mary. Virgin Mary sure is a cute name though, she was probably even my higher power.

shaun00

booze without booze in it.......id rather get my legs waxed...

sounds like a form of torture.......

why would i want to go to a bar..buy something that looks like booze...taste likes booze.....but without the whizz bang....

it was the whizz bang that i seeked....not the taste......not the companionship.....not the smell....