You are at a baseball game, and people around you are lapping up pint after pint when you notice a non-alcoholic version behind the concession stand. You begin pondering how it would taste, and then you wonder whether or not your fellow alcoholics in recovery would shun the notion of giving it a try. Just like the popular fermented drink kombucha, the label insinuates that a trace of alcohol may be present. Is it enough alcohol to get you drunk? Generally, no, unless you drink a lot of it. Is it enough to re-light the fire of your addiction, and throw you into the mental obsession of the disease or the phenomenon of craving? Maybe.
Some people in recovery do drink non-alcoholic beverages that are a replica of the alcoholic versions, and many or most do not. Drinking “near beer” is something that a lot of people in recovery steer clear of, and for good reason. People have relapsed after growing tired of feeling no effect after drinking it, and they begin craving the real deal. The mental obsession takes over, and they talk themselves into doing further research into whether or not they can drink safely and socially. It doesn’t take long for the verdict to return, often with severe consequences.
Drinking non-alcoholic beverages could be likened to a heroin addict injecting a syringe filled with water into their veins. There wouldn’t be much of a point in doing either, except for tiptoeing back to the drug of choice. There’s a saying in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, that “If you walk into the barber shop one too many times, you’ll end up getting a haircut.”
It’s your decision whether or not you want to test the waters of your addiction again. Most of us choose not to, as we want our last drunk to remain our last drunk. If you do take the chance, it probably won’t happen immediately, but the disease has a funny way of sneaking up on us. Replay your tape of what happened before you got sober, and consider whether or not it’s worth it to try something that could lead you down a dark road.
If you are still on that dark road, we can help. The Lakehouse Recovery Center can show you how to live a non-alcoholic life. We will teach you the tools you need to be successful in your recovery, so that you can enjoy your life to the fullest—without alcohol, and non-alcoholic beverages, too. Give us a call, we are available toll-free at (877) SOBER | (877) 762-3707. Begin your recovery today for a better tomorrow.