Light beer
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 15
Light beer
Hi,
I haven't had a drink for two weeks and in my last post I was pretty low as I had been very drunk and done some bad/stupid things.
An old friend came to visit me on Friday (someone who I have been drinking with since our teens) and I told him that I didn't want to drink any more and I told him the reasons why, and what I had done recently because of alcohol.
I told him that my family and my business and making ends meet was at stake, and that if he was a real friend he would understand this.
He accepted what I said but offered me a light beer instead. I've drank light beers before and I never feel any kind of feeling from them (they are about 2.25%), so I accepted. He seemed content with this and we had a good catch-up and it was a pleasant evening. He also mostly drank light beer, although he did have a couple of normal strength cans.
When I went home I read a story to my daughter and put her to bed, then told my wife that I had drank a light beer and whether she thought it had been a good idea or not.
She said it was fine with her.
But I have been thinking about it since and I can't help wondering- is this just going to lead me back to drinking again? If I start getting comfortable with having the occasional light beer, and as time passes and the memories of why I gave up drinking become more distant, will the occasional light beer become the occasional beer and then it will be binge drinking on weekends again?
I think I might have made a mistake.
What are everyones thoughts on light beer? Or even non-alcoholic beer? Should I stay well clear from it or can it be a useful tool?
Steve
I haven't had a drink for two weeks and in my last post I was pretty low as I had been very drunk and done some bad/stupid things.
An old friend came to visit me on Friday (someone who I have been drinking with since our teens) and I told him that I didn't want to drink any more and I told him the reasons why, and what I had done recently because of alcohol.
I told him that my family and my business and making ends meet was at stake, and that if he was a real friend he would understand this.
He accepted what I said but offered me a light beer instead. I've drank light beers before and I never feel any kind of feeling from them (they are about 2.25%), so I accepted. He seemed content with this and we had a good catch-up and it was a pleasant evening. He also mostly drank light beer, although he did have a couple of normal strength cans.
When I went home I read a story to my daughter and put her to bed, then told my wife that I had drank a light beer and whether she thought it had been a good idea or not.
She said it was fine with her.
But I have been thinking about it since and I can't help wondering- is this just going to lead me back to drinking again? If I start getting comfortable with having the occasional light beer, and as time passes and the memories of why I gave up drinking become more distant, will the occasional light beer become the occasional beer and then it will be binge drinking on weekends again?
I think I might have made a mistake.
What are everyones thoughts on light beer? Or even non-alcoholic beer? Should I stay well clear from it or can it be a useful tool?
Steve
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
Originally Posted by steve202020 
is this just going to lead me back to drinking again?
Done that.
Woke up in my neighbor's shrubbery.
I am well shod of it all.
Best of Luck on Your Journey!
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,373
Alcohol took me to such bad places, physically and mentally.
I don't poke the bear anymore.
Two weeks ago you were distraught and bereft over your drinking and the disaster it brings.
To my mind, Steve, you're poking the bear.
D
I don't poke the bear anymore.
Two weeks ago you were distraught and bereft over your drinking and the disaster it brings.
To my mind, Steve, you're poking the bear.
D
Guest
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 2,256
For me, any amount of alcohol (even a tiny bit) excites my AV and leads to frustration because I'm not getting the buzz I want which leads very quickly to drinking normal strength alcohol which inevitably leads to oblivion. The only way I have found happiness and peace is by drinking no alcohol. Ever. No exceptions.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Scotland
Posts: 3,837
In my experience YES - it'll lead you back. I've tried it numerous times, it's not strong enough and wakes the beast enough to want something stronger. I think I lasted less than a night on light anything - so I guess you are doing better than I did.
Is it worth the risk??
Is it worth the risk??
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 15
Thanks guys- you've confirmed what I was thinking.
I think it has already woken up the AV a little bit.
Yes, I was absolutely distraught two weeks ago and disgusted with myself (and still am).
I need to stay well clear of the light beers too and stop playing with fire (y) (y)
Tea and coffee will do for now, although even they can cause problems for me!
But that is another story........
I think it has already woken up the AV a little bit.
Yes, I was absolutely distraught two weeks ago and disgusted with myself (and still am).
I need to stay well clear of the light beers too and stop playing with fire (y) (y)
Tea and coffee will do for now, although even they can cause problems for me!
But that is another story........
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Florida., USA
Posts: 3,252
Light beer? Oh, heck no! I was a light beer drinker because initially I didn't like the taste of craft beer or other high alcohol beers. Trouble was, as time went by, I was drinking more and more and more.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lakeside, Ca
Posts: 10,208
Originally Posted by Nonsensical
Been there.
Done that.
Woke up in my neighbor's shrubbery.
Done that.
Woke up in my neighbor's shrubbery.
I could not claim that I was sober either and that's a big deal for me and my family and friends.
M-Bob
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
Originally Posted by steve202020
I need to stay well clear of the light beers too and stop playing with fire (y) (y)
if this ever comes up again, ask yourself what youd suggest to the ex crackhead thats contemplating smoking light crack or non crack crack.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 269
Light beer was my poison of choice. Not the 2.5 % but the 4.5. %. Micheloeb Ultra, Miller Lite, Coors Lite. At my height I’d drink up to 16 of them in a night. So yeah, I agree with the other opinions that any alcohol at all will probably lead u back. Good luck!
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
When it comes to alcohol, doesn't really matter what form it comes in for us. Beer, wine booze all contain exactly the same kind of alcohol. I personally drank "light" beer pretty much exclusively and it destroyed my health and life pretty readily.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: W Washington
Posts: 11,589
But I have been thinking about it since and I can't help wondering- is this just going to lead me back to drinking again?
i hate to break it you, but you DID DRINK.
your friend didn't "get it" - but his opinion is not what matters.
your wife might be "ok" with it - but her opinion is not what matters.
drinking is never a solution to not drinking.
i hate to break it you, but you DID DRINK.
your friend didn't "get it" - but his opinion is not what matters.
your wife might be "ok" with it - but her opinion is not what matters.
drinking is never a solution to not drinking.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Michigan
Posts: 171
While I thoroughly enjoyed the craft beer scene the past decade+, I morphed into an alcoholic on good old Miller Lite. It looks like you have already taken the point though. Good for you.
In my albeit brief experience of getting sober, that period going from one to two weeks was tricky as although I was still feeling pretty awful, there were enough "good" periods starting to show up that it made me rationalize drinking again. You can guess where those led.
Dust off and start again. Consider yourself fortunate. A one night slip up with low alcohol beers is better than many other alternatives. Quite possibly a good learning experience.
In my albeit brief experience of getting sober, that period going from one to two weeks was tricky as although I was still feeling pretty awful, there were enough "good" periods starting to show up that it made me rationalize drinking again. You can guess where those led.
Dust off and start again. Consider yourself fortunate. A one night slip up with low alcohol beers is better than many other alternatives. Quite possibly a good learning experience.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,065
NA drinks are always a hot bed question here.
For me personally, getting sober has meant nothing with alcohol. Honestly with the vast array of alcohol free choices, it is easier the longer I am sober. A lot of people love sparkling water, I prefer Italian Soda, if I am going to get gassy, I am going to have a couple calories with it. Carbonation is not often my friend. So I keep different syrups on hand to mix with water or club soda when the urge hits.
I brew good strong teas, hot or iced, stir up a pitcher of real lemonade, well citrus-ade I add oranges and limes sometimes.
edited becsuse omg spelling
For me personally, getting sober has meant nothing with alcohol. Honestly with the vast array of alcohol free choices, it is easier the longer I am sober. A lot of people love sparkling water, I prefer Italian Soda, if I am going to get gassy, I am going to have a couple calories with it.
Carbonation is not often my friend. So I keep different syrups on hand to mix with water or club soda when the urge hits.I brew good strong teas, hot or iced, stir up a pitcher of real lemonade, well citrus-ade I add oranges and limes sometimes.
edited becsuse omg spelling
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,526
Hi Steve! Glad you posted about this.
Such great responses - I agree with the consensus. Light Beer was what I drank mostly. Bud Light has 4.2% alcohol vs regular beer's 5% - not that big a difference. It led me straight into hell.
Such great responses - I agree with the consensus. Light Beer was what I drank mostly. Bud Light has 4.2% alcohol vs regular beer's 5% - not that big a difference. It led me straight into hell.
DOS: 08-16-2012
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 365
"But I have been thinking about it since and I can't help wondering- is this just going to lead me back to drinking again?"
The insanity of alcoholism never ceases to boggle my mind! YOU DID DRINK! There is no leading you back to drinking, you were drinking.
My main poison was Natural Light. Mainly because it was cheap and I would drink 18+ every night so I had to watch my pocket book. The fact that it was called "light" and not regular or a fancy IPA didn't change one darn thing about why I was drinking. Maybe I could drink more than a "regular" beer but who cares. No matter what I drank I always drank enough to get the job done.
Are you in AA or another program? If not you really need to be in order to understand Alcoholism. You will learn that Alcoholism is about how you think and not what you drink.
The insanity of alcoholism never ceases to boggle my mind! YOU DID DRINK! There is no leading you back to drinking, you were drinking.
My main poison was Natural Light. Mainly because it was cheap and I would drink 18+ every night so I had to watch my pocket book. The fact that it was called "light" and not regular or a fancy IPA didn't change one darn thing about why I was drinking. Maybe I could drink more than a "regular" beer but who cares. No matter what I drank I always drank enough to get the job done.
Are you in AA or another program? If not you really need to be in order to understand Alcoholism. You will learn that Alcoholism is about how you think and not what you drink.
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