Is drinking alcohol free beer a good thing or bad thing when trying to stay completely sober in your opinion?
2 Likes
Not a good idea. Since it contains as little alcohol as possible. You could be hooked after drinking. Depend on your situation obv.
1 Like
No itās not a good thing
3 Likes
Interesting! I was considering trying alcohol free beer while I am off the hooch and getting the cravings. I actually expected more fors than against 
2 Likes
I am actually a big fan of it and will have a alcohol-free wine or beer on a weekend when my partner or friends are drinking alcohol. I find one glass or bottle is enough to satiate the cravings. Iāve noticed someone has said they contain alcohol so you may get hooked when in fact the amount of alcohol they contain is the same that is in orange juice naturally. I find do what works for you Iām on day 66 and the non-alcoholic beer or wine I have occasionally on a weekend is helping with my sobriety
15 Likes
What if Iām alcohol dependent?
Some people are dependent on alcohol. This means that drinking alcohol becomes an important, or sometimes the most important, factor in their life and they feel theyāre unable to function without it.
Because non-alcoholic or āalcohol-freeā beer contains some alcohol it might cause problems for someone with a dependency. It could trigger behaviour that makes them want to drink more alcohol or relapse from a recovery.
If youāre alcohol dependent or in recovery from alcoholism Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) recommended that you do not drink no-alcohol or low alcohol drinks as an alternative.
4 Likes
Im considering this option as well. I think it will help me still be a part of the crowd without bringing too much attention to myself. I donāt want to have to explain why Iām not drinking. Itās really not anyoneās business. I have tried non-alcoholic wine in the past. Itās not great but it was something to hold in my hand while everybody else was having wine. As far as getting addicted to it, I donāt think that will be an issue for me. It really doesnāt taste good. LOL
For me? No. I wish I could credit the forum user who dropped this awesome bit of wisdom, but it stuck with me:
āNonalcoholic beers and wines are for non-alcoholics, not for alcholics.ā
Makes perfect sense to me.
12 Likes
It depends on what your trigger is. If the taste of beer would trigger you to drink more then donāt do it. Itās a slippery slope to moving on to the real thing. For me the trigger is chasing the buzz so as long as I donāt get buzzed Iām good, NA wine is no different than tea or pop for me.
1 Like
Iāve personally been sober for a year and a half now and about a year into it I found it harder and harder to be around people who drink without wanting a drink myself. Iām not in AA or any recovery group so Iām not sure on how that works with them but Iāve personally found having a NA beer to be very helpful. I can have that social feeling of having a beer with friends without the consequences. It really depends on how strong you are. If you think it will lead to having just one real beer please avoid NA. Everyday you are sober is another day you are being a better person for yourself. Stay strong. Much love sent to you on your journey.
9 Likes
When I quit the first time I drank nonalcoholic beer. In my head I thought of it like diet pop. Some of the taste without the bang. This time around I traded it for ginger ale. It is up to u but after a couple na beers it got worse tasting and the calories werenāt worth it. That is my take.
2 Likes
That is true. NA beers and wines do NOT taste great. Iāve gotten used to the wines but I know they donāt taste like the real stuff. One almost tastes like Welches. LOL
1 Like
Lol it probably is with a bigger price tag.
Difficult question. I can only speak for me and Iām okay with NA beer. We have 2 brands that make beer with exactly 0,0% alcohol, and I like the taste. But true, it could trigger you. If you are not sure with it then better donāt drink it 
1 Like
I quit drinking real beer 29 days ago. I simply replaced it with N/A. It tastes the same (enough) and satisfies the psychologic aspect. I drink a couple after work and I canāt imagine having quit without this alternative. This is my experience. 29 DAYS yāall!!! Good luck!
9 Likes
Just try it, thatās the only way you will know if itās for you. The only NA beer Iāve seen in my town is made by Busch, so F that, I aināt drinking piss if thereās no buzz. I did have a bourbon flavored cola once, it didnāt leave me craving anything, but everyone will react differently.
2 Likes
Non-alcoholic beverages are for non-alcoholics.
YouTube/google search:
Joe Charlie AA Allergy
Its free and they do a great job of explaining the Alcoholic Allergy Trigger.
3 Likes
I have never had a non-alcoholic āalcoholicā beverage that didnāt taste like horse urine. So there is that. (Come to think about it, most alcoholic beverages tasted like horse urine or death, but anyways). In my head for me, it is about trying to cling to a life that I said I no longer wanted.
You know, kind of like when you turn down the lights, pull out the picture albums, and then break out the Ryan Adams vinyl albums while reminiscing about an old ex-girlfriend that life took from you?
That life is gone and to me, I canāt be one foot in the past and move forward. I need to be in the now.
5 Likes
I would say a bad thing but thats just me
Well said @DowntroddenGoat! Iāve not tried NA beer or wine. I was a wine person. I never really did the bar thing so I donāt have that trigger. But even if it tastes like piss, Iām pretty sure I shouldnāt even try it. Bad karma for me.