Non-alcoholic beer or replacing alcohol with other beverages meant to taste like it
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: A Happy Cloud :)
Posts: 63
Non-alcoholic beer or replacing alcohol with other beverages meant to taste like it
Hey guys,
Just trying to get a feel for replacing alcohol with non-alcohol beer or whatever other non-alcoholic beverages may exist. Does it help in recovery or hurt? I went to the grocery store tonight (TRIGGER) and was about to buy a six pack of non-alcoholic beer, but put it back.
I feel like I should replace with ANYTHING else but something that tastes like alcohol. I do genuinely like the taste of some beers, but when I got to the point of just drinking to get trashed it was about shotgunning as many as possible and the lighter the better so it goes down easier.
I guess what I'm saying is that I don't know if non-alcohol beer is even a good idea for me because i'm not sure if I miss the taste nearly as much as I miss the buzz. But if I'm questioning it, I should probably stay away.
Does anyone here drink non-alcoholic beer? What have yall's experiences with it been in terms of your own recovery?
Just trying to get a feel for replacing alcohol with non-alcohol beer or whatever other non-alcoholic beverages may exist. Does it help in recovery or hurt? I went to the grocery store tonight (TRIGGER) and was about to buy a six pack of non-alcoholic beer, but put it back.
I feel like I should replace with ANYTHING else but something that tastes like alcohol. I do genuinely like the taste of some beers, but when I got to the point of just drinking to get trashed it was about shotgunning as many as possible and the lighter the better so it goes down easier.
I guess what I'm saying is that I don't know if non-alcohol beer is even a good idea for me because i'm not sure if I miss the taste nearly as much as I miss the buzz. But if I'm questioning it, I should probably stay away.
Does anyone here drink non-alcoholic beer? What have yall's experiences with it been in terms of your own recovery?
I drank to get drunk, not for the taste of it. I've tasted NA beer and wine and think it's all nasty. But no, if you're questioning it that could be a warning from your subconcious to think twice. I wouldn't advise it.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
the only time I drank beer was when there was nothing else available....
I disliked the taste and it took too long for the desired high.
First...check the labels ...the ones I know about do have a trace of alcohol. ...but I've not been interested in buying any
I've been a non drinker for years and will stay that way... .
My beverages of choice are Water and Iced tea..both with Lemon wedges.
I disliked the taste and it took too long for the desired high.
First...check the labels ...the ones I know about do have a trace of alcohol. ...but I've not been interested in buying any
I've been a non drinker for years and will stay that way... .
My beverages of choice are Water and Iced tea..both with Lemon wedges.
When I was a kid I thought beer tasted like crap. But I learned to like it because of the effect.
Now that I quit I'm starting to remember what it was like to be a kid again.
Let it go. There are way better tasting things to drink.
Now that I quit I'm starting to remember what it was like to be a kid again.
Let it go. There are way better tasting things to drink.
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Overseas... on the shore of an uncharted desert isle.
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I am a big fan of non-alcoholic beer - and the stuff I get here in Asia is 0.00%. That being said, I order a lot more iced tea and coffee than n.a. beer these days; today was brunch with numerous cups of coffee and a chocolate milkshake in the afternoon while at the sports bar (watching the rugby world cup).
HOWEVER when I read the OP, it seemed to indicate there would be potentially a lot of psychological triggers that might be activated by going for n.a. beer. If you are not 100% certain, then by all means, err on the side of protecting your sobriety!!! There are plenty of alternative choices that are similarly non-sweet & dry like iced tea.
The resistance to n.a. beers seems much stronger from Americans. In Europe, n.a. beers are much more part of the scenery by non-alcoholics. They often want taste & thirst quenching qualities but not the alcohol when out hiking or doing outdoor sports that require concentration. Likewise, I believe alcoholics in recovery there would have less of an issue with n.a. beer...
HOWEVER when I read the OP, it seemed to indicate there would be potentially a lot of psychological triggers that might be activated by going for n.a. beer. If you are not 100% certain, then by all means, err on the side of protecting your sobriety!!! There are plenty of alternative choices that are similarly non-sweet & dry like iced tea.
The resistance to n.a. beers seems much stronger from Americans. In Europe, n.a. beers are much more part of the scenery by non-alcoholics. They often want taste & thirst quenching qualities but not the alcohol when out hiking or doing outdoor sports that require concentration. Likewise, I believe alcoholics in recovery there would have less of an issue with n.a. beer...
I'm Australian
My attitude comes purely from my experience - for me, as a beer drinker, something that looks like beer, tastes like beer, smells like beer and comes in a can like beer set off old behaviours.
It may not be so for someone else - but I can hardly talk about someone else's experience
D
My attitude comes purely from my experience - for me, as a beer drinker, something that looks like beer, tastes like beer, smells like beer and comes in a can like beer set off old behaviours.
It may not be so for someone else - but I can hardly talk about someone else's experience
D
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: richmond,VA
Posts: 189
the times I tried it,it inevitably led me back to drinking the real stuff. I know now that I was drinking it to try and recapture the experience of drinking without actually "drinking" it looked like beer ,tasted like beer ,packaged like beer. I was trying to "get away" with something. I leave it alone and drink things that dont resemble alcoholic beverages in any way.
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Midwest USA
Posts: 2,284
I know some people who have been sober for years and drink non-alcoholic beer on occasion. There is probably more alcohol in mouthwash or orange juice than a non-alcoholic beer. Drinking beer took too long for me to feel drunk. If they ever come out with non-alcoholic Vodka, I think I would try it. IMO non-alcoholic is a waste of money. It costs just as much as real beer and you don't feel intoxicated.
For me, it only reinforced the mental behavior associated with drinking real beer. Eventually I would "try" some of the real stuff again to really see if it tasted different.
It never satisfied me and always left a desire. I read that it helps some overcome the habit but I won't take the chance anymore.
It never satisfied me and always left a desire. I read that it helps some overcome the habit but I won't take the chance anymore.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
I quit drinking V-8 as that was something I associated to alcohol....
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 259
I have but it has not been an issue.
I didn't care that much for beer when I drank but I liked it with fried oysters so I have a NA beer when I have Oysters.
I also like Bloody Mary mix and had one yesterday while watching football. I could not imagine not having clams in white wine with garlic or making red sauce with out a little red wine. All the Alcohol is cooked off before eating. These are things that bring me great pleasure, I realize for some this could be too much temptation, but for me it is not.
I could find that there are triggers to my drinking everywhere in my daily life but I would not have time to enjoy myself. To me on the rare occasion I decide to have a NA beer is not a big deal. I gave up drinking not living.
Just my experiences,
Non-alcoholic beer is for non-alcoholics.
I drank it way back when I wanted the wife off my back but it just reminded me why I drank beer and it wasn't the taste.
I've been sober 7 months now, I wouldn't risk my sobriety for anything, much less the taste of something that tried to kill me.
SH
I drank it way back when I wanted the wife off my back but it just reminded me why I drank beer and it wasn't the taste.
I've been sober 7 months now, I wouldn't risk my sobriety for anything, much less the taste of something that tried to kill me.
SH
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