Non Alcoholic Beer

KyCrossMaker · Sep 8, 2008

Is drinking N/A (Non-alcoholic) Beer a decent solution to alcoholism. In my opinion, it is because it helps you mentally as well.

what is your opinion?

ww2pigeon · Sep 10, 2008

Is drinking N/A (Non-alcoholic) Beer a decent solution to alcoholism. In my opinion, it is because it helps you mentally as well.

what is your opinion?
_____________________________________________________________

My opinion is, if you are asking this question, you don't know much about alcoholism. Alcoholics don't drink to be social, we drink for effect. Yes, near beer helps you mentally, lie to yourself. We alcoholics call it denial. God Bless.

Angeldove97 · Sep 13, 2008

My Uncle was an alcoholic for a number of years until he lost his driver's license TWICE. His wife told him to either quit drinking or she'd divorce him and take their son away from him. He listened... thank God!

It was a number of years--- I really don't remember how many--- but my Uncle now drinks Non-Alcoholic beer and is doing fine. IT WORKS FOR HIM--- BUT IT MAY NOT WORK FOR MANY RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS So I would not suggest it as a treatment option. He's able to stick to just having that and that's it!

But I just wanted to share a story that I know it has happened--- not as a treatment option since he did stay sober for a long time before trying non-alcoholic beer and is doing alright.

shakenfruit · Oct 1, 2008

If it can work for someone then more power to them. For me, I don't think it would work. Because it's not the taste that I'm after, it's the drunkenness that follows. And also I don't particularly like beer, I'm more of a hard liquor kind of girl. I don't see it working for a large number of alcoholics, but it's possible it would work for some.

justanobserver · Oct 1, 2008

KyBackwoodsCrosses said:
Non Alcoholic Beer

Is drinking N/A (Non-alcoholic) Beer a decent solution to alcoholism. In my opinion, it is because it helps you mentally as well.

what is your opinion?

Its just my opinion for me only but to drink nonalcoholic beer would be playing too close to the fire. The temptation to have a "real" beer would be too great. The taste, the bottle, the idea of what I doing, etc. would be too dangerous to do.

Hi, My name is Norm an I am a recovering alcoholic.

Bryanfromiowa · Oct 18, 2008

If you read the label those have a minute amount of alcohol in them, and while they won't get you drunk they could cause cravings so be careful.

joeshlatbonk · Oct 18, 2008

Near-beer would maybe be acceptable for a person who thinks they're just drinking a bit too much and want to cut back, maybe. But if one is an actual alcoholic, I think near-beer is an almost guaranteed relapse (there are exceptions to every rule, as the uncle referenced above may be an example of). Relapse doesn't start the moment you take the drink; it's a process that usually has begun a long time before you get to the point of actually taking that first drink...bending rules and borders you've set to keep yourself sober, going to places you know you shouldn't be going, not correcting thoughts you know are going to lead you to bad places.

I have similar thoughts about tonic...just drink tonic, no alcohol added. But why? As far as I can tell it's nothing but you're diseased brain, trying to sucker you back in gradually, because you're doing well enough that you don't seem to be at risk of simply, straight-forwardly falling off the wagon by going out on a drunk. Just remember, that part of your brain is trying to kill you. Don't cede it an inch.

NewlyWife · Oct 20, 2008

I tried switching to NA beer once before when I quit drinking for about a month. It worked OK, but I agree that it is not really the best solution. I did eventually start drinking again.

Are you looking for something other than soda/water to drink in a social situation? If so, how about root beer or something else that comes in a bottle? I am considering doing that, but I once had success with mixing juices. I'd drink half OJ/half cranberry juice. It does get sugary after a while, though.

Harleyrider · Oct 20, 2008

Being sober for a few years I never thought about drinking near beer. To me it was a waste of money. When ever I go to social functions I always drink sodas or coffee and that works for me.

devonian · Oct 20, 2008

KyCrossMaker said:
Is drinking N/A (Non-alcoholic) Beer a decent solution to alcoholism. In my opinion, it is because it helps you mentally as well.

what is your opinion?

I don't think it is a solution to alcoholism.

Alcoholism is a combination of both a craving, once alcohol is ingested, and an obsession to take the first drink. Unfortunately, alcoholics typically deceive themselves and think they do not have one or both of these. I am afraid that drinking N/A beer might just be an elaborate self deception to prove that they are not alcoholic.

Early in my drinking carreer, I went through a phase of drinking N/A beer. For me, it was a horrible experiment. It was not easy to limit my drinking to N/A beer. I continued to feel restless, irritable, and discontent. Yes, I did stop drinking for many months, but one day, I thought I had solved my drinking problem and tried a regular beer. I went right back to drinking as if I had never stopped. I had allowed it to deceive me into thinking I was able to drink like normal people.

But the real reason I dont think it is a solution is that it does not recognize the problem. Alcohol is not the problem, lack of power is the problem. We lack the power to stop drinking once we start, and we lack the power to stop starting. The best solution is a spiritual solution. Reliance on God, who does have the power, is the best way to recover.

hitmantlp · Dec 10, 2008

well as for me i have thought about the non-alcohol beer just to see if i can stop drinking....i think a lot of my problem is psychological...but i dont know if drinking it will help or not bc i also like the actual effects of alcohol...it relaxes me but the next day i wake up feeling terrible bc of the guilt and the affects it had on my body....i drink around 3 or 4 nights a week....i used to drink socially but now i dont like to be around people when i drink...bc i tend to act stupid when i drink around people...at least when i drink at home the only way to act stupid is to do it in front of a mirror...but i know i still need to cut back bc i dont think it is a good testimony when a non believer comes over to my house and i am wasted off 10 beers or more...just my one and a half cents lol....thats all i got left

madison1101 · Dec 18, 2008

My name is Trish, and I AM an alcoholic. I have been in AA for 19 years. People serious about recovery for alcoholism do not even think about drinking NA beer. Nor do we take Nyquil, or use Listerine, or any other mouthwash that contains alcohol, nor do we eat rum cake, or any other baked foods that have alcohol in them. NA beer has some alcohol in it.

Social events are not a problem. Diet coke, or water, or coffee are fine by me.

I have been in and out of relapse too many times. I have been in outpatient rehab, and am currently in a group therapy at the rehab.

If a person thinks they are alcoholic, they probably are and need to find a solution. My solution is in working my AA program, having a continuing relationship with God, and praying daily for the willingness to stay sober, as well as staying away from any and all things that could put me in danger of being tempted to drink, again. That includes, people, places, things and situations.

I suggest you go to AA, and if need be therapy.

God bless.
Trish

BobW188 · Dec 18, 2008

I go with the consensus, though I have a friend with well over a decade of sobriety who drinks nonalcoholic beverages. Too close to the fire for me.

snail · Jan 3, 2009

I like the taste of beer. When I quit nearly 25 years ago I missed the flavor. There is no way I could drink and Ice Cold Pop and be happy on a Hot Sunny Day workin.

NA beer is a blessing in disguise for me. A healthy alternative to pop.

If your motivation is to trick yourself, then it is not for you. Find the reason you need to trick yourself and address it with your elders, mentors sponsors.

I applaud you for making the effort to get to the bottom of it.

madison1101 · Jan 3, 2009

snail said:
I like the taste of beer. When I quit nearly 25 years ago I missed the flavor. There is no way I could drink and Ice Cold Pop and be happy on a Hot Sunny Day workin.

NA beer is a blessing in disguise for me. A healthy alternative to pop.

If your motivation is to trick yourself, then it is not for you. Find the reason you need to trick yourself and address it with your elders, mentors sponsors.

I applaud you for making the effort to get to the bottom of it.

I have health issues that demand I not eat sugar. I lost my sense of entitlement when my health became jeopardized with the sugar and alcohol. I don't care what I have to give up, I have gone for years without eating ice cream, and I can't say I do not miss it, but I am too afraid of the relapses with alcohol and sugar to go back there.

I hope and pray you never have a health crisis that demands total abstinence from a food you love. I can't take that chance today.

eatenbylocusts · Feb 13, 2009

I don't know at what point he started, but an ex with 10 years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol would allow himself 2 NA beers twice a year. When I took him out for his birthday it kind of freaked me out until he explained this. But, alcohol was his trigger, the real problem for him was the drugs.

madison1101 · Mar 21, 2009

Something I heard at an AA meeting recently:

Non-alcoholic beer is for nonalcoholics.

sdmsanjose · Mar 27, 2009

I am just going to pass along the facts but am not going to make a determination.

My father-in-law has been a hard drinker for over 50 years. I saw him drunk for the first time in 1967 when he was passed out in the yard. When we would visit him I would see him start drinking whiskey at 6 in the morning and not stop until he was plastered. This happened almost every day not just once or twice a week.

One day a few years back he had an auto accident and the police put him in jail for the first time in his life at age 74. He had to pay over $7,000 for lawyer fees.

He stopped drinking on that day and that was in July 2006. He has been drinking non-alcoholic beer for almost three years and he is a much better man.

I dont know if non-alcoholic beer is good, bad, or indifferent but we are very glad that he has stopped his drinking.

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