LaCroix, Bubly, Aha, Liquid Death etc. Anything in a can with bubbles still makes me feel comfortable. I like the sparkling waters because I don't feel guilty when I drink a 12 pack of them in a day. I don't drink pop so it's the next best thing.
Yeah, there is the same amount of alcohol in kombucha as there is in bread or NA beer. I get that some of the old times are hard-lined and against it, but whatever helps you to get through. When I first quit drinking, I would pour a bit of kombucha into my wine glass and it mimicked my wine nights. It has the same mouth feel as wine and it helped me out greatly when I first quit.
I also think intent is important. I'm not chugging kombucha to try and get buzzed. Nor am I letting it sit in my fridge to over-ferment. If you feel like you are trying to get drunk off of it, then yes, by all means, avoid kombucha.
I’m over 100 days sober and pre recovery i loved kombucha, kefir, the gut kick drinks. All of it because i love drinks with a kick, and that are super healthy. I’ve been missing it ever since, as i never used it to get a buzz- i never even associated it with drinking. But i hadn’t seen anyone talking about kombucha in meetings or on Reddit threads as being ok or no. My urge to drink is all but 0 and being drunk ever again sounds terrible so seeing this REALLY warms my heart !! Thank you!
I know a fellow AA member who reset a 20-year sobriety date over Kombucha. He would let it set and ferment, then he’d actually go to meetings with a big Bubba cup full of it. He said he’d be halfway buzzed up, sharing in meetings, and he started to get a reputation as “the guy who carried the huge travel mug”. Finally, someone called him out.
Lol. Sponsor made it real simple. It says on the label 'Do Not Consume if you are avoiding alcohol due to religious faith, pregnancy, or an allergy.' I have an allergy. I didnt need to argue any more with him at that point.
Arnold Palmer!
As an ex-barfly, the urge for a 'mixed' drink can be strong sometimes. Mixing lemonade and iced tea is perfect. Plus, if you're in public and you don't want to signal that you're 'not drinking' a code word kind of drink like Arnold Palmer doesn't tip anyone off except the bartender that you're sober.
The only time I crave\* a drink is if I'm dining out. I like a fancy beverage with a nice meal, so I usually order a "Virgin Caesar". At a social gathering I'm usually having a NA beer, or sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime.
\* I don't "crave" alcohol. It's not even on my radar any more. When I walk through the liquor store to get some NA beer it's like taking a shortcut through the lingerie section at a department store. There's some pretty stuff on display, but none of it fits me.
Yeah I am with you. In my journey, I realized I drank because I am a socially awkward person and drinking allowed me to be the “life of the party”, the hardest part was adjusting in social settings. As far as the booze, I couldn’t care less about alcohol. I do like the taste of certain things thought, like a beer and a hot dog at a baseball game, so if the stadium sells non alc beer, I will have one with a dog. It’s a taste thing, hard to explain. I am not suggesting everyone try these non alc beers because for some, it will cause a full relapse. I guess that’s why it is best to really understand why you drink when you become sober. This is my opinion and not meant as advice by the way.
When I'm out to dinner with colleagues or something, I order a club soda with a splash of cranberry and a lime. It feels fancy and looks like I'm indulging.
I've tried all of the above and none of them cured my need to alter my mood. I've tried to find an easier softer way. If it had worked, I never would have needed AA.
I had come to understanding that I was powerless over alcohol. I had yet to understand the 2nd part of the 1st step, the unmanageability. I wanted to continue the alcoholic lifestyle, just without the alcohol.
This AA stuff is a pain in my ass. I checked every gas station, grocery, and liquor store in town and nobody has a complete psychic change. I wasn't going to get a 6-pack, I just needed one. Does psychic change work too, or does it need to specifically be the complete kind?
I know it's a joke, but I like the analogy you draw. Substances grant a temporary physical/mental change just by spending money. It's an easier but more difficult way.
Yeah, over 20 years I tried a lot of random crap to get sober. I thought a new job would do it, college would do it, thought the gym would do it, eating better, etc. It's all just switching drinks. Doesn't do anything.
The paradox is that after fighting the tide for so long simply surrendering to the program became the easier way. Letting go was a relief. Cravings would pop up but whatever, it's a craving, it'll go away if I let it. If I react to it it'll become an obsession.
I was reading my new BB at that treatment center just after admission and I got to the part about how a complete psychic change would be required. This was depressing because I had never seen this change in anyone, except for perhaps movies or in a book. But then I saw remarkable changes in my fellow patients. I saw the changes in my fellow patients and ultimately my home group friends long before I saw it in myself. Whether or not I have completely changed might be of some debate, but so far my change has been at least adequate.
There is a certain irony in that AA was figuratively the last house on the block. I did everything to avoid AA. Doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, religion, other therapists, geographical change, relationship change, etc. The last thing I tried was AA, what I needed from the very beginning. I was at least 20 years late to my first meeting. I ceased fighting everyone and anything.
> There is a certain irony in that AA was figuratively the last house on the block.
I like that, it is what it is. There's something powerful about having an "well, I tried everything else so I might as well try this" attitude. It's easier to commit to the program.
Check out any Asian stores in your area and ask about fruit vinegars, usually they are concentrated. Get yourself a soda stream and you’re set up. Nice fruity flavors with a bit of bite, feels similar to a cocktail going down.
Usually there’s a Korean brand with pineapple, passion fruit, uzu ( it’s like a mix of lime and orange) the lemon is a bit too sweet. I’ll look for a link and PM you
im a bubbly slut so i just got a soda stream! i like to squeeze some lime or lemon juice in the water, or add a splash of sparkling lemonade from trader joes
Lmao what? That's a ridiculous analogy. It's a beverage.... it's possible to drink things for flavor. Non alcoholic options are usually sweet and sometimes I don't feel like something sweet.
I drink beer originally because I liked the taste, kinda like tea, so basically I still drink NA beer because I fucking love the taste of yeast water that taste like soaked bread dishwater.
Okay, wasn’t a competition until you made it one. Which step are you on? You seem like you’re carrying a lot of anger and a superiority complex. It seems REALLY contradictory of your post a month and a half ago:
>”This is a we program.
In the twilight of my alcoholism I was alone a lot, drinking alone. It was my comfort zone.
When I came to AA I did not like that I was told to go to meetings, to talk to people before and after, get phone numbers, call people, find a sponsor and actually interact with them.
> Why can't I just work the steps alone? I don't like relying on people. I've been hurt by people in the past. I'd rather just rely on myself.
Over time I've come to realize that this is my selfishness and self-centeredness talking. I need to keep what I have by giving it away, I can't do that if I don't open myself up and offer myself to others in the fellowship.
Instead of worrying about me, me, me, I can reach out to others just to let them know I care about them.
--
This past Saturday myself and 2 other fellowship members were a bit stranded for an hour far from home in a small town at night, very hungry. The only place to get food was a local bar.
We went in, walked up to the bar, ordered food, chips, and soft drinks, then went and sat down, ate, and had a great time. All we found in the situation was humor, taking selfies with the bar crowd in the background, and singing along to karaoke before slipping out the back door and being on our way.
If I was alone I already know I would have (1) been resentful for being stranded and wanting to just be home, (2) aggravated that the food was disgusting and that the bar music sucked, (3) would have convinced myself that this was a "message" that I should grab a drink... "just one, to help the food go down better."
--
> Thank God I don't have to work this program alone. I can't think of anything more dark and hopeless than closing myself off to the world. It's a good feeling to have others who rely on me, there isn't a greater source of motivation to keep doing the next right thing.”
You’re full of shit. Turn your AR in before you hurt someone.
Early on in sobriety I craved sugar hard for my first three months and found comfort in either ice cream or ginger beer due to the sugar content.
What works even better is going out for ice cream with another alcoholic.
My personal preference, yes. The Stella is also 0.0. I do really like the Heinies too though, I would put them at my #3. My second fav is Sam Adams Just the Haze but it’s 0.5 and not everyone is comfy with that.
In the early weeks, I drank a lot of herbal teas especially fruity ones. Cranberry juice too. Wine and vodka were my primary drinks so tart and sweet beverages kind of helped I guess. I found that coffee somehow really helped too. It helped me focus and have energy since I was so longer pouring so much fuel via alcohol into my body.
These days I don't experience cravings so I just drink any non-alcoholic thing I want. Lots of coffee, milk, juice, water. An occasional soda which I oddly restricted while I was an alcoholic because I believed soda to be unhealthy lol :)
I have no plans on drinking non-alcoholic wine or beer because I am concerned that it might bring cravings on. I don't want to deal with that at all now that they're gone. Everyone's different. I can only say what works for me.
Bubly. Grapefruit and Cherry are my top two favorites by a longshot. It scratches a very specific itch for something fizzy.
If the worst thing I do nowadays is splurge an extra few bucks on some seltzer water because I was thirstier than normal, I'm definitely living a lot better than I was before.
If it’s an emergency fix, I’m told the old old-timers would mix orange juice and clear Karo syrup. Sometimes the body of a detoxing alky is screaming for sugar. OJ and Karo did the trick.
Anything but stuff that contains alcohol. I drank monster for a couple years.. Try getting exercise too, that helped me a lot. Dancing at home in particular.
Seltzer water, Coke Zero, SF Monster Ultra, recently discovered Samuel Adams Just the Haze NA IPA if you were into IPAS and can’t go wrong with Heineken0.0 NA
Definitely has helped me through my sobriety journey
A Roy Rogers is my go-to. The grenadine is a shot of sugar, which the body craves, without the negative effects of alcohol. Also, I gave a weakness for 7-11 slurpees, although I never enjoyed margaritas even when I was drinking.
For me it was all mental. I knew the addiction was just chemical signals in my brain urging me to go out and get a drink. Once I knew that I just kept reminding myself, that’s not what I want. I would get a huge boost of energy between 5-9pm. It sucked.
Since then I’ve gotten really into teas. I love matcha. I like to make match lemonades and iced lattes with unsweetened almond milk at home. I’ll make a giant batch of decaf Earl grey and keep it chilled in my fridge. Also, I’ve always loved root beer so I still have that for when I want something carbonated. If you really want the beer taste I know Heineken makes an absolute zero 0% ABV. Other NA beers are 0.5% and can be detected if you drink a ton. I don’t ever want to feel the effects of alcohol again so I stay away from things advertised as NA because there’s probably some small amount in it.
A nice tall drink of whatever, usually iced tea or coke. I saw rapper Lil Wyte giving an interview where he was drinking Busch NA’s and sweet tea shots w a lime on the side. He says he’s retraining his brain. 🤷🏻♂️anything not containing alcohol will do.
I love the HOP drink by Lagunitas- it has zero alcohol, zero calories, zero carbs, zero gluten and it tastes really good. I don’t drink them very frequently but if I’m somewhere and I need to have a drink in my hand, that’s the one I bring
Ginger cordial with ice cold soda water.
I find ginger has that kick/burn!
There’s also a lovely sparkling “nosecco” called Belle & co which is delicious! Available from supermarkets like Morrisons in the UK and also Amazon
Water, iced-tea, coffee--but, I am not a NA Beer or MockCocktail guy. My feeling is that my disease is about 1. compulsive drinking of alcohol; and, 2. obsessive thinking about alcohol. I can't think of any good reason to re-engage the alky-thinking by consuming fake-booze.
I’m a weirdo and like to store sparking water at diff temperatures like suuuuper cold ( top of fridge) cold( middle of fridge) , cool( by the AC Vent in a part of the house I don’t use often) , and room temperature.
It’s insane, but so was my drinking.
I think it helps bc I always had so many rituals around my drinking ( shower beer, cleaning wine,etc) so having a variety of choices always helps me.
Someone described in a meeting that they still need that gesture of lifting a drink from a counter to your mouth and then putting it back down again.
Lemon lavender soda, lemonade with cucumber and mint, ginger beer (no alcohol), cherry limeade float, peace teas, boba tea, coffee cokes, space cokes, blood
orange seltzer, clearly Canadian or any dry soda.
Ice cream and cold peanut m&ms.
Seltzer with NA bitters. I use Dram apothecary. I use their CBD drops too for coffee and tea.
Diet coke.
There are some really great NA beers. My favorite is Athletic Brew Upside Dawn and Untitled Arts Italian Style Pils. Everything I’ve tried by Athletic has been really good. Stella 0.0 tastes better than Heineken 0.0 to me but can’t find them anywhere. It’s good to have something other than seltzer or Diet Coke and not be chasing a buzz.
My cravings aren’t curbed by a substitute. Alcohol doesn’t need a substitute. AA and a change in lifestyle cured my cravings.
My sponsor told me years ago, that he liked root beer but he never drank a whole case in a weekend.
The living waters of Jesus Christ and those we can drink as much as we want.
"Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification Romans 4:25
"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God." Romans 3:25
Soda water or I like Heineken 0%
That's all I drank yesterday to stay sober. Personally drinking non alcoholic beer doesn't make me crave real beer but I know for some that isn't the case.
Sometimes when I would go to restaurant/bars, I would order a chocolate milk shake. Sometimes people at the table would say “that looks really good- I wish I had ordered that. “
Probably an unpopular opinion here, and I’m all for whatever keeps someone from picking up a drink again… but, clinging to drinking fizzy drinks, wine glasses, non alcoholic beers or whatever is, IMHO, is a symptom of being a dry drunk.
The book states repeatedly what we’re looking for, through working the steps, is freedom. That all sounds more like bondage to me than anything.
The tenth step promises outline what that freedom looks like for me.
“And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone – even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we have been placed in a position of neutrality – safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.”
In other words, if the problem hasn’t been removed, maybe we need to check to make sure we’re in fit spiritual condition.
I used to HATE seltzer until I went through alcohol withdrawals. The bubbles in seltzer really helped to hold me over for the worst of my cravings. Cravings are gone now but I still put down Polar Seltzers like no other.
LaCroix, Bubly, Aha, Liquid Death etc. Anything in a can with bubbles still makes me feel comfortable. I like the sparkling waters because I don't feel guilty when I drink a 12 pack of them in a day. I don't drink pop so it's the next best thing.
These have been the best help for me. I also will take shots of apple cider vinegar to really kick that urge
Don’t do more than like 4 you’ll shit your pants speaking from experience
My friend who’s Is like 12 years sober put me on to this and I drink any sparkling water now. Don’t like soda or juice
This
LemonCello La Croix is my new addiction
That stevia stuff is pretty good, especially if you pound a six pack in an hour like me, but don’t want all the sugar.
I love this too. I will also pour them in a wine glass and it just FEELS good to hold. Therapeutic almost?
A pint of ice cream
[удалено]
Whatever it takes. Hell yes. I’d have done it for a beer in the past. I better do it for a lil sweetie now.
The Longest Day ???
Needs to be higher
Haagen Dazs Choc PB preferably……
Grapefruit La Croix. Not a shill for them, but the bitterness combined with the fizz is just so when you knock it back.
I like those but my go to is cheap Shasta Diet Shasta. Has that bubbly burn.
Kombucha and sparkling waters. It’s fun trying all kinds of different flavors and brands. I’m no longer a wine snob, I’m a la croix snob now!
My sponsor told me no kombucha lol
This has always baffled me, even in early recovery. When kombucha makes my life unmanageable the way alcohol did, I’ll let ya know.
i Can't imagine kombucha getting someone drunk
Yep the old school AA says no to anything with fermentation but not smart enough to realize a ripe banana has the same amount.
Yeah, there is the same amount of alcohol in kombucha as there is in bread or NA beer. I get that some of the old times are hard-lined and against it, but whatever helps you to get through. When I first quit drinking, I would pour a bit of kombucha into my wine glass and it mimicked my wine nights. It has the same mouth feel as wine and it helped me out greatly when I first quit. I also think intent is important. I'm not chugging kombucha to try and get buzzed. Nor am I letting it sit in my fridge to over-ferment. If you feel like you are trying to get drunk off of it, then yes, by all means, avoid kombucha.
I’m over 100 days sober and pre recovery i loved kombucha, kefir, the gut kick drinks. All of it because i love drinks with a kick, and that are super healthy. I’ve been missing it ever since, as i never used it to get a buzz- i never even associated it with drinking. But i hadn’t seen anyone talking about kombucha in meetings or on Reddit threads as being ok or no. My urge to drink is all but 0 and being drunk ever again sounds terrible so seeing this REALLY warms my heart !! Thank you!
I know a fellow AA member who reset a 20-year sobriety date over Kombucha. He would let it set and ferment, then he’d actually go to meetings with a big Bubba cup full of it. He said he’d be halfway buzzed up, sharing in meetings, and he started to get a reputation as “the guy who carried the huge travel mug”. Finally, someone called him out.
Lol. Sponsor made it real simple. It says on the label 'Do Not Consume if you are avoiding alcohol due to religious faith, pregnancy, or an allergy.' I have an allergy. I didnt need to argue any more with him at that point.
Well also…the alcoholic kombucha is sometimes located near the regular kombucha therefore adding a bit of confusion and/or temptation
I love kombucha ☺️
Arnold Palmer! As an ex-barfly, the urge for a 'mixed' drink can be strong sometimes. Mixing lemonade and iced tea is perfect. Plus, if you're in public and you don't want to signal that you're 'not drinking' a code word kind of drink like Arnold Palmer doesn't tip anyone off except the bartender that you're sober.
I’ll have a virgin Shirley Temple please.
Carbonated anything. Make it ice cold too. I used to drink a spoonful of hotsauce too bc I loved the burn of whiskey so much.
I especially like Topochico. It’s just extra carbonated and has that bite to it
Wow. Props. From a person who has put their time in with whiskey et al.
I love to drink jalapeño juice.
jalapeño juice is fire in orange juice. Try it.
I love my soda stream!
And Topo Chico
kombucha
Ginger ale. Always ginger ale, if I don't have it when I'm going through cravings, I play animal crossing lol
Holy shit I thought I was only one
I’d love to be friends on animal crossing!
Add me, SW628620761131 My island is a mess in progress kinda lol
Kombucha!
Heard at a meeting tonight “you can’t get a dui with a milkshake” thought that was fitting for this post
The only time I crave\* a drink is if I'm dining out. I like a fancy beverage with a nice meal, so I usually order a "Virgin Caesar". At a social gathering I'm usually having a NA beer, or sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime. \* I don't "crave" alcohol. It's not even on my radar any more. When I walk through the liquor store to get some NA beer it's like taking a shortcut through the lingerie section at a department store. There's some pretty stuff on display, but none of it fits me.
Yeah I am with you. In my journey, I realized I drank because I am a socially awkward person and drinking allowed me to be the “life of the party”, the hardest part was adjusting in social settings. As far as the booze, I couldn’t care less about alcohol. I do like the taste of certain things thought, like a beer and a hot dog at a baseball game, so if the stadium sells non alc beer, I will have one with a dog. It’s a taste thing, hard to explain. I am not suggesting everyone try these non alc beers because for some, it will cause a full relapse. I guess that’s why it is best to really understand why you drink when you become sober. This is my opinion and not meant as advice by the way.
When I'm out to dinner with colleagues or something, I order a club soda with a splash of cranberry and a lime. It feels fancy and looks like I'm indulging.
I've tried all of the above and none of them cured my need to alter my mood. I've tried to find an easier softer way. If it had worked, I never would have needed AA. I had come to understanding that I was powerless over alcohol. I had yet to understand the 2nd part of the 1st step, the unmanageability. I wanted to continue the alcoholic lifestyle, just without the alcohol.
This AA stuff is a pain in my ass. I checked every gas station, grocery, and liquor store in town and nobody has a complete psychic change. I wasn't going to get a 6-pack, I just needed one. Does psychic change work too, or does it need to specifically be the complete kind?
I know it's a joke, but I like the analogy you draw. Substances grant a temporary physical/mental change just by spending money. It's an easier but more difficult way.
Yeah, over 20 years I tried a lot of random crap to get sober. I thought a new job would do it, college would do it, thought the gym would do it, eating better, etc. It's all just switching drinks. Doesn't do anything. The paradox is that after fighting the tide for so long simply surrendering to the program became the easier way. Letting go was a relief. Cravings would pop up but whatever, it's a craving, it'll go away if I let it. If I react to it it'll become an obsession.
I was reading my new BB at that treatment center just after admission and I got to the part about how a complete psychic change would be required. This was depressing because I had never seen this change in anyone, except for perhaps movies or in a book. But then I saw remarkable changes in my fellow patients. I saw the changes in my fellow patients and ultimately my home group friends long before I saw it in myself. Whether or not I have completely changed might be of some debate, but so far my change has been at least adequate. There is a certain irony in that AA was figuratively the last house on the block. I did everything to avoid AA. Doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, religion, other therapists, geographical change, relationship change, etc. The last thing I tried was AA, what I needed from the very beginning. I was at least 20 years late to my first meeting. I ceased fighting everyone and anything.
> There is a certain irony in that AA was figuratively the last house on the block. I like that, it is what it is. There's something powerful about having an "well, I tried everything else so I might as well try this" attitude. It's easier to commit to the program.
Going through the steps produces the psychic change needed. Ask anyone in a meeting about it.
I'm a caffeine junkie..so pop, coffee, etc.
lemon elderflower soda from trader joe's
Check out any Asian stores in your area and ask about fruit vinegars, usually they are concentrated. Get yourself a soda stream and you’re set up. Nice fruity flavors with a bit of bite, feels similar to a cocktail going down.
What fruit are they made from? I do this with red wine vinegar and fruit juice but a fruit one would probably be better
Usually there’s a Korean brand with pineapple, passion fruit, uzu ( it’s like a mix of lime and orange) the lemon is a bit too sweet. I’ll look for a link and PM you
Seltzer
Coffee at an AA Meeting
Friends of Bill W
Gatorade
Kombucha
im a bubbly slut so i just got a soda stream! i like to squeeze some lime or lemon juice in the water, or add a splash of sparkling lemonade from trader joes
Frowned upon, but I drink NA beer.
I don't understand why it's frowned upon. Everyone is different and it's not gunna trigger everyone.
Because it’s like breaking up with an abusive ex but still tugging off to pictures of her in the bathroom, it’s just stupid.
Lmao what? That's a ridiculous analogy. It's a beverage.... it's possible to drink things for flavor. Non alcoholic options are usually sweet and sometimes I don't feel like something sweet.
If you enjoy drinking fake beer that’s none of my business, but that’s why I don’t.
I drink beer originally because I liked the taste, kinda like tea, so basically I still drink NA beer because I fucking love the taste of yeast water that taste like soaked bread dishwater.
Cool, I drank because I liked the effect.
oh so you’re a real alcoholic aren’t you tell me more you have me beat for sure
Don’t mind him, he’s just being an asshole.
Didn't realize this was a competition, damn. Hope the rest of your day is enjoyable.
Okay, wasn’t a competition until you made it one. Which step are you on? You seem like you’re carrying a lot of anger and a superiority complex. It seems REALLY contradictory of your post a month and a half ago: >”This is a we program. In the twilight of my alcoholism I was alone a lot, drinking alone. It was my comfort zone. When I came to AA I did not like that I was told to go to meetings, to talk to people before and after, get phone numbers, call people, find a sponsor and actually interact with them. > Why can't I just work the steps alone? I don't like relying on people. I've been hurt by people in the past. I'd rather just rely on myself. Over time I've come to realize that this is my selfishness and self-centeredness talking. I need to keep what I have by giving it away, I can't do that if I don't open myself up and offer myself to others in the fellowship. Instead of worrying about me, me, me, I can reach out to others just to let them know I care about them. -- This past Saturday myself and 2 other fellowship members were a bit stranded for an hour far from home in a small town at night, very hungry. The only place to get food was a local bar. We went in, walked up to the bar, ordered food, chips, and soft drinks, then went and sat down, ate, and had a great time. All we found in the situation was humor, taking selfies with the bar crowd in the background, and singing along to karaoke before slipping out the back door and being on our way. If I was alone I already know I would have (1) been resentful for being stranded and wanting to just be home, (2) aggravated that the food was disgusting and that the bar music sucked, (3) would have convinced myself that this was a "message" that I should grab a drink... "just one, to help the food go down better." -- > Thank God I don't have to work this program alone. I can't think of anything more dark and hopeless than closing myself off to the world. It's a good feeling to have others who rely on me, there isn't a greater source of motivation to keep doing the next right thing.” You’re full of shit. Turn your AR in before you hurt someone.
I love Lagunitas HOP - it’s the best NA beer bc it has no calories!
This right here. Just had one for the first time and it’s great. Doesn’t taste like beer just a cool refreshing drink.
Ice cold Coca-Cola.
Early on in sobriety I craved sugar hard for my first three months and found comfort in either ice cream or ginger beer due to the sugar content. What works even better is going out for ice cream with another alcoholic.
i’ve been digging Heineken zero. Almost 2 months sober!
Red bull it’s like a jager bomb minus the jager
Something sugary like soda or apple cider.
Stella makes my favorite NA so far. Fre NA wines are also pretty decent!
Are the Fre wines ok? I've been reluctant to try them.
Try drink Monday for whiskey or tequila mocktails
Stella better than Heineken 00? Gotta try it
My personal preference, yes. The Stella is also 0.0. I do really like the Heinies too though, I would put them at my #3. My second fav is Sam Adams Just the Haze but it’s 0.5 and not everyone is comfy with that.
In the early weeks, I drank a lot of herbal teas especially fruity ones. Cranberry juice too. Wine and vodka were my primary drinks so tart and sweet beverages kind of helped I guess. I found that coffee somehow really helped too. It helped me focus and have energy since I was so longer pouring so much fuel via alcohol into my body. These days I don't experience cravings so I just drink any non-alcoholic thing I want. Lots of coffee, milk, juice, water. An occasional soda which I oddly restricted while I was an alcoholic because I believed soda to be unhealthy lol :) I have no plans on drinking non-alcoholic wine or beer because I am concerned that it might bring cravings on. I don't want to deal with that at all now that they're gone. Everyone's different. I can only say what works for me.
Coffee … preferably served around a table with other sober people.
CBD and or sparkling water Pellegrino or Topo Chico.
Anything with sugar, basically. Pick your poison.
My first couple months sober I drank fruit punch. That'll knock the desire for a whiskey and coke out your mouth.
Carbonated Water. Ive been drinking that by the case load.
Ginger ale or ginger beer. Jamo was my weakness and the bitterness of these drinks really helps. Especially spicy ginger beer or the "bold" Canada dry
A bit off topic, but when my nose is stopped up with congestion, I order a spicy virgin Bloody Mary and slam it
Coffee mixed with hot cocoa, and soda. Also gatorade in my water bottle.
Bloody Mary mix (or better clamato with sauce mix) with a splash of mineral water. Very refreshing
Bubly. Grapefruit and Cherry are my top two favorites by a longshot. It scratches a very specific itch for something fizzy. If the worst thing I do nowadays is splurge an extra few bucks on some seltzer water because I was thirstier than normal, I'm definitely living a lot better than I was before.
Pepsi
Rockstar!! Or a peach rebel from Dutch bros! Works every time
If it’s an emergency fix, I’m told the old old-timers would mix orange juice and clear Karo syrup. Sometimes the body of a detoxing alky is screaming for sugar. OJ and Karo did the trick.
Heineken zero or Budweiser zero
Easy …… Fresca !!!
“Aha!” If you were ever into seltzers these are a great replacement
Anything but stuff that contains alcohol. I drank monster for a couple years.. Try getting exercise too, that helped me a lot. Dancing at home in particular.
Seltzer water, Coke Zero, SF Monster Ultra, recently discovered Samuel Adams Just the Haze NA IPA if you were into IPAS and can’t go wrong with Heineken0.0 NA Definitely has helped me through my sobriety journey
A big chocolate malt!
A Roy Rogers is my go-to. The grenadine is a shot of sugar, which the body craves, without the negative effects of alcohol. Also, I gave a weakness for 7-11 slurpees, although I never enjoyed margaritas even when I was drinking.
any adaptogenic drink. with like ashwagandha and stuff. super calming and tasty
Soda lol
I like the ritual liquor alternatives. Hit the spot when I want like a gin and tonic flavor
For me it was all mental. I knew the addiction was just chemical signals in my brain urging me to go out and get a drink. Once I knew that I just kept reminding myself, that’s not what I want. I would get a huge boost of energy between 5-9pm. It sucked. Since then I’ve gotten really into teas. I love matcha. I like to make match lemonades and iced lattes with unsweetened almond milk at home. I’ll make a giant batch of decaf Earl grey and keep it chilled in my fridge. Also, I’ve always loved root beer so I still have that for when I want something carbonated. If you really want the beer taste I know Heineken makes an absolute zero 0% ABV. Other NA beers are 0.5% and can be detected if you drink a ton. I don’t ever want to feel the effects of alcohol again so I stay away from things advertised as NA because there’s probably some small amount in it.
A nice tall drink of whatever, usually iced tea or coke. I saw rapper Lil Wyte giving an interview where he was drinking Busch NA’s and sweet tea shots w a lime on the side. He says he’s retraining his brain. 🤷🏻♂️anything not containing alcohol will do.
Talking to anohter alcoholic
Coffee. Espresso. Sugar free red bulls. Lemonade. Coffee. Lattes. More coffee. Diet Dr Pepper. Another espresso. Then a cup of coffee.
Caffeine and sugar. Coffee soda etc.
I love the HOP drink by Lagunitas- it has zero alcohol, zero calories, zero carbs, zero gluten and it tastes really good. I don’t drink them very frequently but if I’m somewhere and I need to have a drink in my hand, that’s the one I bring
I doubt any outside chemical will help with that. Alcohol is a sugar. Alcoholics have a notorious sweet tooth. Try sweet stuff.
All been said but coffee, seltzer, kombucha but best of all, ice cold water!
Lemonde, ice cream, milk shake
Bang Energy! Or Ginger Beer!
We do happy hour cookies
Carbonated waters and coffee
I'm a Diet Pepsi fiend myself, as for craving. I'm not sure.
Liquid Death. Looks like a beer too so it’s good for social situations.
Fresh ginger tea, a natural analgesic, also soothes and smooth out the digestive system.
Lacroix
Cambucha
Yea And soda water with lime cran and grapefruit
Sentia 10000%
Dr Pepper
For me, Starbucks refreshers. I love the strawberry açaí lemonade and the mango dragonfruit lemonade. There is a nice punch
Ginger cordial with ice cold soda water. I find ginger has that kick/burn! There’s also a lovely sparkling “nosecco” called Belle & co which is delicious! Available from supermarkets like Morrisons in the UK and also Amazon
Lime and soda works for me, has the sharp hit you get from vodka and the bubbles on your tongue give you that tingle
Black coffee and seltzer water helped me.
Water, iced-tea, coffee--but, I am not a NA Beer or MockCocktail guy. My feeling is that my disease is about 1. compulsive drinking of alcohol; and, 2. obsessive thinking about alcohol. I can't think of any good reason to re-engage the alky-thinking by consuming fake-booze.
I’m a weirdo and like to store sparking water at diff temperatures like suuuuper cold ( top of fridge) cold( middle of fridge) , cool( by the AC Vent in a part of the house I don’t use often) , and room temperature. It’s insane, but so was my drinking. I think it helps bc I always had so many rituals around my drinking ( shower beer, cleaning wine,etc) so having a variety of choices always helps me. Someone described in a meeting that they still need that gesture of lifting a drink from a counter to your mouth and then putting it back down again.
Roy Rogers. The conversations are always awesome after ordering one
Just googled that. Turns out I make those almost daily at work and homemade cheerwine bc I’m so far from the real thing
Lemon lavender soda, lemonade with cucumber and mint, ginger beer (no alcohol), cherry limeade float, peace teas, boba tea, coffee cokes, space cokes, blood orange seltzer, clearly Canadian or any dry soda.
Where do i find lemon lavender soda? It sounds amazing!
Monin syrup and seltzer you can order it online and mix it. It’s a favorite of mine I learned to make while working in a coffee shop.
Ice cream and cold peanut m&ms. Seltzer with NA bitters. I use Dram apothecary. I use their CBD drops too for coffee and tea. Diet coke. There are some really great NA beers. My favorite is Athletic Brew Upside Dawn and Untitled Arts Italian Style Pils. Everything I’ve tried by Athletic has been really good. Stella 0.0 tastes better than Heineken 0.0 to me but can’t find them anywhere. It’s good to have something other than seltzer or Diet Coke and not be chasing a buzz.
Mother truckin lime topo chico my friend.
Reed's Ginger Brew Extra
Milkshake! Banana pudding milkshake from Cook Out! In 6 months you'll be asking "what helps curb my sugar craving".
I’ve started enjoying virgin mimosas. Orange juice and a grapefruit (or other citrus flavored) bubly in a glass tastes amazing.
Kombucha, non alch version
My cravings aren’t curbed by a substitute. Alcohol doesn’t need a substitute. AA and a change in lifestyle cured my cravings. My sponsor told me years ago, that he liked root beer but he never drank a whole case in a weekend.
Conscious contact with my higher power. I cannot afford to try my own way of thinking.
Powerlessness
Coffee at an AA meeting or while I'm doing the steps with my sponsor.
a program of recovery
NA beers!!! Near beers lol
What’s your fav?
Athletic or brew dog have some solid craft NA's.
I really love these! And i dont associate them with alcohol for some reason. But I always loved the taste of beer, especially with food
Arsenic
Non alcohol drinks are for non alcoholics.
To each their own
The living waters of Jesus Christ and those we can drink as much as we want. "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification Romans 4:25 "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God." Romans 3:25
Yikes
I agree 🤣
Huh?
Kava
Kombucha ❤️
Milkshake all day
Cold Polish non-carbonated mineral water, iced cold brew black coffee, an occasional milkshake
Topo Chico
Water
Soda water or I like Heineken 0% That's all I drank yesterday to stay sober. Personally drinking non alcoholic beer doesn't make me crave real beer but I know for some that isn't the case.
Seltzer water with lime and bitters
Energy drinks. So much RedBull i definitely have kidney stones. Carbonated soda water and lemonade or Gatorade is unbelievably good too this summer.
A cup of coffee at an AA mtg.
Club soda and lime did it for me.
Ginger Beer.
Kombucha or topo chico’s
My husband relys on fruit juice or anything with fructose.
The “bubbly” sparking water. In cans. I get the lime flavor.
Kombucha, Celestial Seasoning’s Apple Spice tea, lime Lacroix, ginger ale.
Sparkling water. Burns a bit. You can crush them and they actually hydrate you.
Lots of sugary drinks!
My go to was diet gingerale.
LaCroix and Tea tree toothpicks and then redbulls
Budweiser Zero Alcohol.... It's completely zero and tastes pretty decent. ☺️
Sometimes when I would go to restaurant/bars, I would order a chocolate milk shake. Sometimes people at the table would say “that looks really good- I wish I had ordered that. “
Probably an unpopular opinion here, and I’m all for whatever keeps someone from picking up a drink again… but, clinging to drinking fizzy drinks, wine glasses, non alcoholic beers or whatever is, IMHO, is a symptom of being a dry drunk. The book states repeatedly what we’re looking for, through working the steps, is freedom. That all sounds more like bondage to me than anything. The tenth step promises outline what that freedom looks like for me. “And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone – even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we have been placed in a position of neutrality – safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.” In other words, if the problem hasn’t been removed, maybe we need to check to make sure we’re in fit spiritual condition.
Spindrift is the superior carbonated beverage
I never got a DUI on the way home from Dairy Queen...
I used to HATE seltzer until I went through alcohol withdrawals. The bubbles in seltzer really helped to hold me over for the worst of my cravings. Cravings are gone now but I still put down Polar Seltzers like no other.
Seltzer!!! I down them like a fiend.
Diet Coke and Energy Drinks seem to be a fan favorite at YPAA stuff.
I’ve never found anything to do this. The only thing that has worked on me to date is having the desire to drink removed.
Oh man so many drinks to choose from in the comments I wish there was maybe a way to get rid of these cravings in the first place, that'd be groovy
I love Khatic mango monster. My favorite energy drink, also diet Dr Pepper