Is Shandy cheating?
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,145
Well... only you know what you can and can't control, so only you know whether it's 'cheating' or not. You set your own rules for your life and your drinking and you are accountable to yourself so you must decide what having shandy means to you. If you're feeling guilty, though, I'm inclined to think that it probably wasn't something you should have done. Guilt is a stupid feeling, and ruins our resolve... so it's up to you how you move on from this. How you react to that shandy over the next few days will be the key thing. Having 'just one drink' can turn into 'just one night of drinking' to 'every day drinking' pretty quick. Hope that doesn't happen to you, but don't let guilt drive you to do it again, either. Good luck and all the best x
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London, England
Posts: 724
As far as I'm aware, the hand gel is isopropyl alcohol, which isn't the same thing. I could be wrong, but if it's the same as the swabs they use when you get jabs, it'll be isopropyl alcohol.
Some people won't use mouthwash because of the alcohol in it. While I think that's extreme, I can sort of see their point.
Let me ask a different question. Why did you feel the need to ask us whether it was cheating or not? Because you felt guilty? Why did you feel guilty? Was it because you felt like it was cheating?
When I was drinking every day, there were times when I'd phone my fiance and confess that I'd had a drink. 'You don't need to tell me every time,' he'd say. And I wasn't. I'd phone him when I was nagging myself 'What the smeg did you have that pint for? There was no reason. You could have not had it.' Why had I? Because I was passing a pub and needed to use the toilet, or was standing outside a pub, waiting for a bus in the rain. Or even because I'd been passing a pub and I knew nobody would know I'd stopped off for a quick one, because it took so little extra time. In other words. Guilt.
Nigel, you asked. I don't know what answer you wanted, but I'm guessing you didn't get it. If you honestly don't think it's cheating, and you can genuinely have just one and not want another or feel the need to move up to something stronger, that's great. I get the feeling that you're not sure, and that's why you asked.
Hang in there. Do what you know you need to do to stay sober. You're worth it, trust me.
Some people won't use mouthwash because of the alcohol in it. While I think that's extreme, I can sort of see their point.
Let me ask a different question. Why did you feel the need to ask us whether it was cheating or not? Because you felt guilty? Why did you feel guilty? Was it because you felt like it was cheating?
When I was drinking every day, there were times when I'd phone my fiance and confess that I'd had a drink. 'You don't need to tell me every time,' he'd say. And I wasn't. I'd phone him when I was nagging myself 'What the smeg did you have that pint for? There was no reason. You could have not had it.' Why had I? Because I was passing a pub and needed to use the toilet, or was standing outside a pub, waiting for a bus in the rain. Or even because I'd been passing a pub and I knew nobody would know I'd stopped off for a quick one, because it took so little extra time. In other words. Guilt.
Nigel, you asked. I don't know what answer you wanted, but I'm guessing you didn't get it. If you honestly don't think it's cheating, and you can genuinely have just one and not want another or feel the need to move up to something stronger, that's great. I get the feeling that you're not sure, and that's why you asked.
Hang in there. Do what you know you need to do to stay sober. You're worth it, trust me.
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 364
Originally Posted by Nigel1969 
I've just read the bottle and is 0.2% alcohol. I also wash my hands with alcohol gel which probably soaks into my skin. Does that also class as cheating?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 53
I drank it because the water is warm and cloudy from the tap, and the only liquid I had in was a bottle of shandy from about a year ago. Was the best of 2 evils. My tomato juice had ran out and I was so thirsty. I'm still sober after 9 days, but finding it harder each day to avoid having a beer. Don't know how long this sobriety is going to last. It's a daily struggle.
Grateful AA member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the middle of the woods, NJ
Posts: 567
I drank Shandy as a kid when I lived in England. They sell it at a corner shop. Me and my friend tried to get drunk on it and could not bc there is hardly any alcohol in it otherwise it would not be sold to kids. I wouldnt beat yourself up over it.
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London, England
Posts: 724
Originally Posted by Nigel1969
I drank it because the water is warm and cloudy from the tap, and the only liquid I had in was a bottle of shandy from about a year ago. Was the best of 2 evils. My tomato juice had ran out and I was so thirsty. I'm still sober after 9 days, but finding it harder each day to avoid having a beer. Don't know how long this sobriety is going to last. It's a daily struggle.
And yes, it's not easy. I've slipped up more than once since I decided to quit back in May. I can't offer any easy answers. Keeping your blood sugar up helps. Making sure you've got plenty of liquid in the house, or with you if you're out, helps too.
I don't know how long my sobriety is going to last. So far, it's lasted longer than any of my other attempts, so I'm in uncharted waters. But I know how long I want it to last. And I know what I need to do to make sure it does. And if I do slip, I won't beat myself up about it. I'll pick myself up and start again.
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 557
If it has alcohol and it knowingly passes your lips, then whether you think it's cheating or not you are walking on dangerous ground, especially if you rationalize drinking it. I remember the rationalizations I used to have a drink. "Well of course, I had to have a couple, my boss was there and he was drinking" - "I was out with the guys and our team won. Everyone toasted them. If I hadn't it would have looked like I wasn't one of them"
Alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful
Alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 164
I agree with what WritingFromLife said. If you drank the Shandy to hydrate yourself because you had no other options, then I wouldn't worry about it. If even part of you wanted to drink Shandy because you were hoping to catch a buzz (which would be really difficult anyway), then it might be a problem.
Personally I don't completely avoid all alcohol. I still use mouthwash, I eat beer battered fries, and have wine vinaigrette on my salad. Its all about the reasons why you would consume these foods\drinks IMO.
Personally I don't completely avoid all alcohol. I still use mouthwash, I eat beer battered fries, and have wine vinaigrette on my salad. Its all about the reasons why you would consume these foods\drinks IMO.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 8,642
If .2% alcohol is a problem for some, then make sure you check out the various fruit juices available in the market. Many varieties have at least that much.
Although I have no way to verify this....there was an article in a national newspaper about how using hand sanitizers on a regular basis ( which I do because I'm a musician and teach ), can soak into the pores of your skin and register on a drug screening. It won't get you drunk, but could possibly cause you to lose your job.....so said the article.... ( myth perhaps?)
Although I have no way to verify this....there was an article in a national newspaper about how using hand sanitizers on a regular basis ( which I do because I'm a musician and teach ), can soak into the pores of your skin and register on a drug screening. It won't get you drunk, but could possibly cause you to lose your job.....so said the article.... ( myth perhaps?)
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Originally Posted by Nigel1969
...I'm still sober after 9 days, but finding it harder each day to avoid having a beer. Don't know how long this sobriety is going to last. It's a daily struggle.
But you'll never, ever, wake up feeling guilty about NOT drinking!
Go out, pick up lots of non-alcoholic substitutes, like sparkling mineral waters and tea. Then, please, open yourself up to finding and working a viable recovery program. Your white-knuckling method doesn't appear to be leading to success.
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