hmmm...hi deidre....awesome that you pushed thru it.

Sux..that you feel that way in a restaurant....I know whenever I have a craving anywhere if I eat something..right away it passes.

I would grab some bread as soon as possible....but some places don't serve bread...carry some chocolate in your purse....pop one....you might feel better.

The only other idea I have is avoid restaurants until you are stronger.

Its great you got thru it...:) I think every time you have a victory over alcohol....you will get stronger.

I did not go to restaurant that served alcohol....when new in sobriety we had a guy who was Denny's head on our island and we used to go to Denny's before or after meetings....turned out well as they do not serve alcohol at Denny's....

Now 20yrs later I eat anywhere I want and even in the bar areas when baseball game is being viewed in bar only....no problem so it gets better with time...give it time go places that do not serve alcohol if you can...if not then just keep the plug in the jug and remember the money you just saved by not ordering booze

Breathe through it and drink water or club soda with lime.

I did not find restaurants to be difficult. I was very clear in my head before I walked in the door that I was not going to drink and I think that helped.

Now it doesn't bother me at all.

I was lucky when it came to grog and food because as long as I can remember. I only drank water with my meal, still do today.

Having said that EJG suggestion of water/soft drink is a good idea and this is for two reasons.
1. It gives you something to drink and lessen the obsession to pick up the first drink
2. It stops others offering you an alcoholic drink when they see a drink in your hand.

As a side issue which I think is sound advice for all if you are out whether at a restaurant or just a function only drink what you yourself have gotten, lot of people think it is funny to give people alcohol even when they say they do not want it.

Keep your drink close and if you lose track of it do not drink it get a fresh one.

Good Luck G8

All very sound and great advice. I DID find after eating and drinking I had no desire to order an alcoholic beverage... it was only when first sitting down and hungry that my cravings kicked in. I ordered a pop and instantly I was relieved I hadn't ordered anything else!

Thanks for the thoughts.

HUNGRY...Ding, ding, ding...

Hello deirdre0415,

Eating in restaurants was occasionally a favourite activity of mine, not because of the food but because they served alcohol. Then in early sobriety I went to such a place with my wife and her sister, two people whose idea of a binge is having a second glass of wine. The two non-drinkers had a glass of wine each and I was happy to drink water.

By that stage I had accepted that I could not use alcohol safely and that there was no going back. I had also been going to AA meetings and had learned precisely why I could not drink normally and what would happen if I took even one drink. A short time before that it would have been virtually impossible for me to go there and not drink. In fact, I would be scheming how I could fit in a couple of quick extra drinks without the other people knowing and looking hours ahead to how I could top up with more alcohol. Now, what had been impossible before had become easy.

What other people do is their own business but that is what going to AA meetings did for me.

It's helped me to find something I enjoy drinking while out. I don't care much for soda and I drink water constantly during the day. Last night while I was out to dinner, I tried cranberry and club soda. It was very yummy and I had no craving after that.