Hi, Everyone! Thank you for stopping by. I am wondering what others think of alcohol-free beers and wines. Do you think that is a healthy way to avoid a relapse, and/or to manage “the itch” or cravings? Or do you think things like that will only lead to a relapse? Appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I’ve never tried any of those things, and I’m 8 days into being sober.
I tried them. Only made me want the real thing lol. I found that making the decision for a pop made me feel better! It was nice to walk into liquor store and not buy alcohol tho.
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Congrats on your 8 days!!! 
When it comes to non alcoholic beverages… to be honest (and this is my opinion)… it would not be beneficial for me personally. I actually think that would be harmful. Not in the sense of ruining my recovery bcuz there is no alcohol present, BUT mentally it would mess with me and I actually feel like it would potentially trigger me to get an alcoholic drink or to use drugs. I HAVE read on here that it does really help other people tho to get thru the urge to drink. So when it comes down to it, I think it’s about being truly honest with yourself and your recovery and deciding for yourself whether its beneficial or not. Just cuz it doesn’t work for me, doesn’t mean that it hasn’t helped others. People have stayed sober another day bcuz they were able to drink a nonalcoholic beverage.
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I agree with this for myself too!
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I got sober feb 3, 2020. Around 4 months I got some none alcohol drinks and did fine, but then I just stopped they weren’t triggering, but then I hit a year and went down to my uncles around 450 days and was buying them everyday bc he drank and I was struggling, eventually at day 456 I caved bc I just wanted the real thing. I came back home at 4 in the morning from Pennsylvania back to NY drunk on my Harley trying to escape the relapse. When I got home I tried just drinking n.a again but it wasn’t enough I kept drinking too and dove into my other d.o.c and even tried meth. Even went out on my Harley with friends and tried drinking n.as before I started drinking the real thing with them. My point is I was struggling bc I wanted to drink so I tried to choose the n.a and eventually it just woke the demon and eventually I went for the real thing… crazy to think one more fricken month and I’d have two fricken years or sobriety. But idk nothing I can do now, back to 89 days and still struggle some days. But anyways the choice is yours it’s your sobriety much love
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Wow, 456 days is incredible. I’m so sorry to hear that the N.A.’s drew you back in to the real stuff. I’m really happy for you that you’re back on track and, at 89 DAYS! You should feel really good about that. I hope to be there one day. Thank you so much for sharing your story. 
@anon53116147
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Absolutely and you will get there. It’s worth it for sure. Definitely try the n.a. if you want some ppl can handle them, I like to make smoothies alot they are more refreshing, or just sparkling water. Something about the taste of non alcoholic beer does wake up a trigger. I was able to do fine with it for a little. But now I’ll prob stay away from them, each time we work through the struggle and urge we get stronger mentally.
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Lots of people hate em, personally it’s my last ditch “no!” I will get a six pack of NA and if I smash all of them in a sitting, hey it’s better than real beer.
But I also find the next few days I feel really thirsty for the real beer. It gets me through a tough night or a bar situation with a client but i try to abstain unless really feeling an urge.
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I love Smoothies and sparkling water too! 
Keeps my junk food intake down too. Lol.
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That totally makes sense. @Bigirishdude It might be something worth keeping in the back of my fridge when the urges are stronger than usual. Right now I’m doing okay but everyday is different, for sure. Thank you for sharing!
All they ever did is make me want the real thing, which I would eventually drink. This time no beer or wine NA or alcoholic, and I’ve managed to stay sober for over 4 years. Don’t think that’s a coincidence. YMMV.
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I had attempted to quit drinking (amongst many times) about 7 years ago by taking my favorite wine glass and filling it with non-alcoholic wine. I thought I could replace the wine and be fine. Nope. That didn’t last long.
HOWEVER, fast forward to five months sober and I take my son, his girlfriend, and my daughter on a vacation. I’m kicking back by the pool when my son hands me a frothy coconut drink with one of those cute little umbrellas in it. I got super scared. He said no worries mom. There’s no alcohol. Then I was still scared because of what had happened with the wine. But it actually was tasty and I loved it! My analysis on this: if you’re going to try and “replace” your doc, it’s not going to work. But if you do it once in a great while, on a special occasions, as a treat…not a replacement… it could be enjoyable.
Of course everyone is different. So the bottom line is to do what’s best for you and your sober journey 
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I relapsed after 2years 6months non alcoholic beers played a part in that relapse I would be careful with them
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Welcome to TS!
I like herbal teas, they don’t have caffeine unless it’s green or black tea. I also like tonic water as I’m into the bitter taste.
You can search for non alcoholic beverages using the magnifying glass. There are lot of threads on TS on the topic, I even remember one with mocktail recipies.
Keep us posted 
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Congratulations! I can only speak for myself, but na-beers were good enough for me. I quote because of the effects of alcohol ie. drained my confidence, increased my depression, killed motivation etc. The times when I would drink alcohol were when hanging out with friends, watching sports, binging TV series etc. I am fortunate that I dont get “the itch” but I do sometimes desire the ritual. The ritual of having a beer in hand, in front of me etc. This satisfied that completely for me. There are a lot of good ones out there now. Lately I have been drinking Coors Edge. When I go to the local pub I still get the 24oz mug I used to pound 5 or 12 of, but now I have them pour two bottles of the NA in it. I feel like I did when drinking except for the not slurring, not leaving drunk, not feeling bad about myself, the incredible number of calories, and all of that jazz. I like it better than the real stuff because the real stuff I would eventually get trashed and couldn’t drink anymore lol. I realize that isn’t for everyone. My addiction is more for the ritual than the intoxication. Also, keep in mind that most NA’s do in fact have alcohol in them but low enough of a % that they can say they are NA. So depending on your goals that may be a hard no-go. I believe that is around .05% in most NA’s. Congratulations on your 8 days and keep up the fight!
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I’ve been sober 377 days. I tried the n/a wine… I wasn’t a fan at all and the other mixers just made me want something I knew I could not have. I moved away from all of it.
If going out to eat, water with lemon, in house I drink water. It just in my mind made me want the other… I know it would have pulled me backwards and I only want to move forward . Period.
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For me, it’s just a step towards a relapse. I tried them a while before I got in the program and before I knew it, I was pouring real beer into NA beer bottles to hide it.
Good grief, the stupid things I did to feed my addiction.
I just had to come to my own realization that these things weren’t an option for me.
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this illness is cunning so if you think drinking NA stuff is going to make it easier to stay sober your in for a a big surprise stick to soda water and lime wish you well
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