then you smoke some oregano and sniff some baking soda

Xanax is a fine substitute, but I wouldn't recommend it!!

If you're only drinking three beers 'a week' why on earth are you wondering if you're an alcoholic??

I like the taste of alcohol, I find that often after a stressful day I'll go and sit outside with a beer and think about life, it usually calms me down pretty well, but the problem is that it makes booze something I like... I've tried all sorts of crazy drinks to replace alcohol but nothing else seems to work the same.

* * * * * * *

I think this is where we are supposed to substitute our Higher Power or whatever it is we are believing in.

I have found writing helps to eliminate stress. Taking a journal outside and drinking something sweet or whatever. Water works but imo it MUST be icey cold or its just yuck. A pack of life-savers to suck on, a pen and paper. Crayons and the mindless activity of colouring can help. Bird watching, listening to water running...actually I find water and trees to be very relaxing...so a walk along the waterfront or sitting under a tree can do much to alleviate my mind and mood in ways that alcohol couldn't even touch.

Um, other ways to help one stay 'disconnected from the body' which aren't really healthy? Lack of sleep. Lack of food. Lack of urination. All can make one feel light-headed and 'off' but I wouldn't suggest any of these as a form of recovery.

If you're looking for ways to 'take your mind of your problems' though, I would suggest prayer, writing, listening to classical or 'relaxing music', learning to play guitar or another instrument, art, ... even a gameboy advanced or whatever the newest ones are and a good game...these can help though I have found that playing video games can simply be substituting one addiction for another...but all and any of these can bring peace of mind. Another idea is a fluffy little dog that constantly needs its hair trimmed...this is one I am doing currently since my HP provided me with a little doggie over Christmas.

Thing is, is if you are just looking to substitute something outside of yourself for the alcohol to give you that 'bliss feeling' then perhaps you are simply substituting one thing for another. -Doing- something is a little different in that it keeps the body occupied whilst allowing the mind to go free. Meditation, yoga...all of these things helps us to train the mind so that it doesn't obsess so much on the days problems...or simply writing things down or talking things out with our HP.

My personal solution I think is often music. I play guitar and sing and this can help destress me in ways that nothing else does. I'm often too lazy to actually do it but when I do, I feel really good.

Another thing I have found that helps is the mind frame we have when we substitute. If you are telling yourself..."boy, I wish I had a beer right now, but no, I have to have this lousy glass of water" then likely the water isn't gonna do the job. But, if you tell yourself..." I will enjoy this nice, fresh glass of ice water whilst I sit and meditate/write/play/ whatever" then success is much greater of a chance. And, doing something...creating something...allows us to look at/hear the results of our work further down the road. Even, like said above, something as simple as colouring or paint by numbers can give posative vibes to our minds.

I've heard a lot of positive things about Perrier...I'll have to try it. Right now I'm drinking flavored packets that you add to bottles of water....during the hours I used to drink the other stuff. I've even started drinking hot tea and hot chocolate before bedtime....:-)

Life!
 

I'm finding life is a wonderful experience.....my eyes aren't as cloudy as they usually are, and I'm starting to actually listen to my family when they are talking to me, instead of nodding and impatiently waiting for them to go away so I can get back to destroying my liver. I know it's gonna be a long journey.....I'm at day 5 as of 15 minutes ago. I love reading everyone's posts.

Peach:tyou

Just have to moderate and it taskes some fore- thought .

I started to town to get my weekly 6 pack i get on friday ,got in the car and started off to town ,Than thought ,i have a blunt headache now and a couple beers will make it worse .

Came back in and sat down ,wife said "No beer " ,i replied i have a light headache and that will make it worse .

As you go along drinking may very well become a non issue .

It has for me anyhow .

When i first quit i kept a cold bottle of gatorade for the ride home ,then got on pineapple fanta ,then apple schapple ,lots of good drinks to experement with .

Substitute for alcohol. Is there any?

I found a great substitute, and it has been more than that in the program and fellowship of AA.
I have been released from care boredom and worry. the most satisfactory years of my life( not just existing anymore) lie ahead!

the only reason i'm posting is that you responded to a comment by zorah back in 2012, i'm new to this sight and your response was quite interesting to me, they told me on the sight that I would have to make 5 posts before I could send a private message, your story there pretty much explains myself, hope to make 4 more posts and send that message, thanks

I think it depends on what we're considering a substitute.

I love really good root beer. I'm not talking Bargs or A & W. I'm kind of lucky to be in a city large enough where "microbrews" are available. Given that root beer is something you can "craft"--using different flavoring agents to modify the taste and even mouthfeel--I get to experience something unique and delicious with each one, like craft beer, while drinking something that completely isn't beer (the use of "beer" in the name is a Prohibition throwback.) Kvass is also really good too but hard to find unless you live in a place with a large Russian or Bulgarian population.

I will have a non-alcoholic beer on rare occassions when I'm out. Mostly because I really hate the taste of Coke/Pepsi/etc. but I look at it as a soft-drink, not a stand-in for 'real beer.' I wouldn't do it otherwise. That'd be as if, to second whomever suggested it's like a cocaine addict sniffing baking soda is right on.

I would say best of all is just find a new routine that doesn't involve drinking anything. It might just need to be that whole habitual, "at this time I have a drink" routine that needs to be eliminated.

I found ,somthing cold to drink on the ride home from work really helpful .

A blue gatorade was my substitute ,plus i actually felt better after drinking one -not worse .

My substitute for drnking the night away is two-fold. #1: Being of service to my fellows in my AA Meetings...in my own way. I bake in the evening, when just a short while back I would have been drinking 'my' wine. Now, I'm baking my goodies for the next days meeting. #2: Instead of continuing to drink, I enjoy coming into our bedroom and reading SR before bedtime. So, instead of passing out each night, SR is like a meeting before going to sleep. Now, actual liquids I drink. Even when I drank alcohol, I had carbonated water all day, till I switched to wine for the night. I still do the same thing (MINUS THE WINE). I haven't liked soda since I was a teenager. Water... YUM,it's TRUE....nothing else will quench your thirst. :dance6:

I have a sober friend who swears by Becks non-alcoholic beer. He drinks for the taste. He's been a sober member of AA for over 25 yrs.

Personally I never drank for the taste, but rather for the effect. Drinking Non-Alcoholic drinks made me crave the release of the real thing leading to relapses.

Today I like to add 2 packets of Emergen-C to my water every now and then. Feels like a real treat.

The spiritual experience and psychic change the program (12 steps as outlined in AAs Big Book).

It has to be done in order to be experienced.

My best substitute for alcohol is the high self esteem and self respect I recieve from not building my world around a poisonous beverage.
It is fun to be addicted to feeling good about oneself.
And you carry it around with you wherever you go.... very practical! You're always prepared for any occasion that may arise when you carry self respect in your pocket!

Substitute for Alcohol
 

I have found that the best substitute for alcohol is cocoa. I make it with about two thirds water and one third milk with a half teaspoon of sugar. Maybe it is the chocolate that does the trick!

Old thread...but I've found substitutes strangely important, I take a chilled bottle of Pellegrino into my bath. I also drink diet mountain dew or other diet soda, because I avoid sugar and don't have issues enjoying the sweet taste of diet soda. I order Pellegrino in restaurants.

Here's a weird Pavlovian thing. After starting to drink my Pellegrino I get that same relaxed slightly euphoric feeling. My brain isn't convinced with it, haha. I was a hard seltzer drinker. It's a similar taste.

Vodandoxy
 

When I first got sober for 3 months, I was drinking about maybe 15 bottles of N.A. beer a day. We even cleared out the entire of the Dominican republic of the stuff When we went on holiday there. Here we are 2 years later, and on day 2 of my recovery. Abstinence from alcohol of any type must be the key. AA is a substitute for many. But to me a member of AA you have to have a desire to drinking. If you don't have a desire to stop drinking completely and would like to control it instead, technically there isnt a seat in an AA meeting for you (unless it's and Open meeting.) Stop drinking those three beer a week I suggest as, never week next month or next year, who know - you could by dead or in prison.

Good luck.

There is no substitute in my mind,

welcoem to SR Brillig and vodandoxy :)

D

I know I couldn't drink na, it would leave me longing for the effect of alcohol and the taste would trigger me. I do find sometimes I get a thirst that only something fizzy will take away so I have been drinking more fizzy drinks like a cream soda or ginger beer. Also a milkshake has become a new fav.

Read "A Vision for You" in the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Yes, there is a solution and there is a substitute.

Ditto: cranberry + sparkling water, a twist of lime

Just read this chapter today! So much to learn. I found the part about the about the boy whistling in the dark trying to fool himself about how great his soberity is but inwardly would take 6 drinks if he could and it kind of made me think about my own reactions lately! I keep re reading parts as I read things differently every time.

Some of my favorites: Diet mountain dew on the rocks! Or coffee - regular in morning and decaf at night. Or hot green tea at night. Or water on the rocks with a sweet n low!

Whatever you choose just make sure it's not alcohol! You'll get used to it after a while and it's healthier!

I agree completely.

Mediterranean diets, reading, hot chocolate, Chamomile tea, yoga, cardio exercise, etc. may be very enjoyable life enhancements, but they don't constitute a plan of recovery.

It is my favorite chapter. I get so much relief that I am on a road that goes somewhere when I read it.

If there were a substitute for alcohol, it would have to destroy your life and the lives of those around you.

Herbal teas. Cranberry juice but a fancy sort with not much sugar, or black cherry organic juice and then add tonic or diet tonic. Maybe some lime. Pellegrino is also my favorite and so is the blood orange Pellegrino, a soft drink. Geroldstein if you can get it, it's German sparkly water. Also, the taste of alcohol will leave bothering you if you have some really good food.

My substitute for alcohol is life.