Hi Bob, I think if I was to romance the alcoholic drink these days I would more worried about my spiritual condition rather than near beer alternatives. That is the only thing between me and my next drink - I am either recovered or I am not.

I know there are a few fans of so called non alcoholic beer or wine here but it is a definite no from me, I do not gamble with my sobriety on stuff like that, nor am I remotely tempted to. I know I have the physical allergy and near beer is not completely alcohol free.

Just one more thing to consider - if you have no alcohol in your system you cannot have cravings - it's the mental obsession coming to call.

There are so many refreshing other choices - hope you pick one of those instead. Personally I like lime juice and soda water or fresh chilled juices.

Sweet tea works well for this drunk.
Near beer is just that - most often with 0.5% alcohol. Go into a barber shop often enough you are eventually going to get a haircut. Let your last drink stay your last...

Hugs,
Dennis

Hello bobinmaine,

I do a job during the summer that is physically demanding and this is how it has worked out over the years.

At some point I decided that the work would be easier if I had a few drinks before starting and so for a number of years that was what I did. A bit later I became totally convinced that I could not do the job at all UNLESS I had a few drinks. I had developed an obsession for alcohol and my mind was always trying to justify taking a drink. After I stopped drinking I discovered a magic substance that is great for taking away a thirst and that is what I drink now. I dont want too many people to know the great secret so I will refer to the substance only as H2O.

As for non-alcoholic beer, I do not think that it exists. What you are referring to is beer with a low alcohol content. When you stop drinking the volume on the tape that runs in your head gets turned down but not off. Then something happens, such as a warm day, a wet day, a cold day or two dogs fighting and the volume gets turned up once again. That is why it is recommended that alcoholics make use of a programme of recovery so that the tape gets switched off or in other words, the obsession is removed.

I've delt with those thoughts a number of years ago by learning to follow the clear-cut directions in the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous." The basic text for the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. It has been working perfect;y for the past 74 years when we follow those directions..

We recover by the steps we take, not the meetings we make

Bob, that thought might be tied to having a cool refreshing beverage as much as an alcoholic drink. So make sure you aren't thirsty! Drink lots of lemonade or other hot weather drinks. I think the thoughts of beer will disappear.

i REALLY enjoy San Pellegrino flavors. It comes in Grapefruit, Blood Orange, Orange and Lemonade. Truly refreshing, but intense, so you don't drink it fast either.

I have been under some financial stress and my focus had changed but I know what I have to do and I know better too.

It's just too easy to slide back into those old habits, ya know?

Haha! Here's a riddle Batman lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOsVohtbgxc
Oh and I'm not into that kinda nostalgia No moore Bob....picture a albatross round your neck slowly undermining your soobriety efforts. Cafe floor me ,or Aqua... refreshing and no calories either:)))

Flavored, carbonated water works well. It's fizzy, doesn't have a bunch of calories (almost none) and quenches your thirst. Buy a 12 pack of LaCroix or Canada Dry sparkling water and keep it on ice.

No such thing as alcohol free beer Bob.

On a hot summer day(and believe me the days in West Texas are hot!), alcohol doesn't even occur to me although a big glass of ice water does!

You're not trying to dance with that 500 lb gorilla again, are you?

I don't go there. I don't substitute. I drink ice tea, water, diet coke. And I don't long for a drink. If I have a thought of one i quickly put it OUT of my head by focusing on something productive. Romancing a drink is just not a good place for me to be, ever.
I also don't drink near beer, or fancy non alcoholic drinks masquerading as the real deal. Why bother?

Thoughts, dreams, acknowledge and move on. On a hot day anything cold with ice in it. Cordial or lemonday, a spray of water on my face, cool dip in the ocean, bit of a hose-down washing the car or a run through the sprinkler after mowing the lawn or a choc-mint ice-cream. Good to be sober Bob.

:))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn1gheckr70

I drink N/A beer (near beer) Odhouls. I also drink ice tea, botteled water, sparkling cider. When I went to Vegas, that is what I drank while I was sitting at the slot machine, Odhouls. I personally like the taste of Odhouls. Personally, I see nothing wrong with 'NEAR BEER'.