Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

[Red]

Hey Gang
Ok, so today is Day 14 AF for me. I'm doing better. My good friend came over for dinner last night. We had some non-alcoholic wine. The red wasn't horrible but the white was gross. I wish there were more AF choices of seemingly adult beverages. Tonight will be the big test. I have to attend a very large company party where everyone will be getting drunk...except me. I am the driver for the evening. If anything is gonna test my willpower it will be happening tonight. So, please keep me in your thoughts. :h

[skootiemom]

Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

Red~ I will be thinking of you tonight, as I will be challenged in the same way- a girls nite out, and I don't have to drive.
I am feeling good this morning, so I will hang onto /craving to feel the same way tomorrow.
I plan to drink Soda and lemon, but I agree, I wish there was some fancier, not too sweet, adult beverages that feel sexy!

Skoots

[lilmea]

Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

Red,

Taking on the job as designated driver seems like a good idea. All you have to do is say "no thanks, I'm driving" Good luck.

[upnorthgirl]

Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

I don't get it!

I guess I don't understand the fake alcohol beer and wine thing (especially if they taste like crap!). I have to admit that I have never selected a drink based on taste.

Yes, I drink/drank/have drunk simply so I could get buzzed. Well, not purposely smashed, even if that was mostly the end result. I drank so I could let things go,
de-stress, forget, relax, unwind, feel the fuzzy buzz, forget about the rotten day, the coming home to a messy house because hubby watched TV all day...yeah, the buzz to forget.

But truthfully, not because of the taste. Mostly drank vodka--would mix it with lemonade or OJ, tomato juice, whatever. Wine--didn't care what kind, what color, what price.

[Accountable for Me]

Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

I am not one for the taste either. I junked out on alcohol to get drunk.

Someone mentioned on here before that they put their AF bevies into a wine glass. This way it feels the same to the hand which gives it some elegance; yet you will remain sober.

I like that idea.... especially if you are out.

[A Work in Progress]

Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

In choosing not to drink alcohol, I also choose not to drink the fake alcohol substitute-stuff. Like upnorthgirl, I guess I just don't "get it." For me, drinking non-alcoholic wine or beer would amount to staying just one step closer to drinking alcohol, because it is based on the idea that the norm is for grown-ups to be drinking booze... which is a form of distorted thinking that can lead to relapse. It is not juvenile, or somehow "less-than," to drink sparkling water, or iced tea, or plain water with a wedge of lemon, or even to not have a glass of something in hand, when others are drinking alcohol... and becoming comfortable with that is (for me) a significant part of getting over the idea that alcohol is an important and good part of adult life...

[Boss.man]

Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

I drink lots of fake wine. FRE white is pretty bad. But Ariel is ok. I like sparkling pear juice a lot (found in the juice aisle next to the martinelli's), Brand name is Kristen or Krista or something like that. I add just a tad of water to it to make taste "dry" like wine. I've even given some to the spouse, who declared that the wine tasted a bit odd, but drank it anyway.

In our house, a wine glass on the table is part of our dinner ritual, on the nights when we do a more formal dinner. Mostly this is weekend nights, or when we are celebrating. So the AF wine helps me continue a tradition without rocking the boat.

All of the above has sugar in it which can increase cravings. I also drink a lot of mint tea and that seems to decrease cravings. Just my opinion.

[Guest]

Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

I have been given some non-al wine which looks just like the real thing. I find I'm actually too scared to drink it and only tried some at my mother's on New Year's Day. Was quite nice but I'm afraid I don't find any drink "sexy", let's face it alcohol never made me sexy - in fact quite the opposite although at the time I often felt I was being terribly sophisticated.

Over here Asda supermarket have a lovely range of grapespritzers, they are refreshing and aren't trying to be wine. I also like cranberry or grapefruit juice diluted with soda or plain water. Last week I had a before dinner drink at a smart restuarant of tomato juice with spices.

Don't worry too much, you aren't missing out on anything and you should find your desire to have "drink in hand" diminishes rapidly.

[river0123]

Day 14~wishing for more AL choices...

I also don't get the fake stuff. To me that's like drinking decaf - what's the point?:H:H:H