What do you drink instead of alcohol?

[veritas]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

To both uninspired and Timpin, a very warm welcome.

I agree that it is very difficult to find a drink that "works".

In terms of that, go with Evie. Lou's suggestions. I would also add, don't ever allow yourself to get thirsty or hungry. Once we pass that barrier, we forget how to interpret natural impulses and substitute water or food for alcohol.

Uninspired, I think that you are possibly spot on in owning up to the problem. One of my biggest problems was that every time I tried to seek help, I was told that I was just being neurotic. Thing is, addiction does not mean "uselessness". It is possible to be very "functional", yet addicted.

I am still a very "functional" person, but I have wasted time, money, brain power, possibilities.... and so the list goes on.

Listen to your own intuition.

[LilBit]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Pellegrino (or other fizzy mineral water) with lemon in a nice glass is wonderful. And a good champagne substitute is fizzy water with pineapple juice - very festive, slightly sweet. And (oh yes, Bets! I'm with ya) I often treat myself to a hot chocolate before bed. Its become part of my nighttime ritual, followed by reading a good book with the dog snuggled up behind my knees. Ahhhhh...

If you're an ex-wine drinker, you'll probably crave sugar when you take away the AL. That's one reason why the sweet drinks work so well as substitutes, especially at the beginning. The massive sweet tooth wears off eventually, but it's important to taper the sugary stuff concurrently.

Good luck with it!

[Boss.man]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

I'm HUGE into substitute drinks. I used to drink booze. Now I switched to keeping a wine glass in my hand every night. So I switched the glass, but I keep one in my hand all the time. It's what's in the glass that is different. Here's some things found in my wine glass:

Sparkling Pear Juice - watered down slightly because I find it too sweet This looks like white wine, and is dry tasting and very good.

Sparkling Apple Juice - watered down

Knudsen Pure Blueberry watered down 50/50. Looks like red wine.

Pomegranite, Cranberry, BlackBerry, etc. Watered down. Sometimes put fizzy water in to make it sparkly.

And for afternoon drinking; Lemon Koolaide (Yep, the kid stuff) mixed with Splenda and just a drop of spearmint extract. The mint gives a bit of tart. If you've ever had a "lemon drop" cocktail, this tastes close.

Some of these drinks are expensive, the Blueberry juice is $7 for 32 ounces. But this is still cheaper than wine or booze, and if a glass-in-hand keeps me off the sauce then so be it!

Good luck.

[back to me]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Some great substitutions

Okay, I am brand new to this site & blogging of any kind is not my cup of tea... or bottle of wine in my case. But I have tried to quit before to no avail. However, in the process, I have found some good subs that I even voluntarily drank sometimes instead before I felt the need/pressure to quit. I'm in to all this new natural stuff out like aloe and coconut water. Aloe is so good for our skin and for coating your stomach, and coconut water and milk do the same as well as immediately hydrate & load you with potassium. (which is good if ou bruise easily). Anyway, I buy what's called Aloe Gloe in white grape flavor. Individual bottles provide you with two drinks - I pour it in a glass & splash with soda water. It's also good alone. I also buy coconut water flavored with fruit juices like peach & mango & top tht with soda water as well. If you don't like sparkling water you really can't taste it because it's just a splash, not a whole glass of it with just a splash of juice. SoBe also makes lean fruit juices with 15% coconut water. I also cut pomegranate juice & tart cherry juice sometimes with it but they're not my favorite comparatively. I'm trying to tie it in to an over all health kick just for extra motivation. And I guess looking for different new trendy juices around town makes it a tiny bit more fun... rather than this just is definitely not my Sav Blanc! If they seem expensive, just think of how much we probably spent on alcohol!
Most importantly I pour it in to my large wineglass over ice - thought it might be bad for me but it really does help! Hope this helps someone in some way.
P.S. I've never even thought of non-alcoholic wine! Anyone try that??

[Persephone1]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Hehe, how fun is this? A 3.5 year thread bump? Hiya Back to Me & Welcome ~

This has been a kinda cool experiment for me. I love water, so flavoring it with different combos has been my 'project':

Cinnamon, Cardamom and Orange
Lemon & Ginger
Lavender & Lemon
Cucumber & Citrus
Berries of All Kinds
I leave the fruits in it, keep in a glass jar & combine with Sparking/Fizzy water to add Pizzazz!

Yummay
P.

[moni]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

back to me;1494778 wrote: Okay, I am brand new to this site & blogging of any kind is not my cup of tea... or bottle of wine in my case. But I have tried to quit before to no avail. However, in the process, I have found some good subs that I even voluntarily drank sometimes instead before I felt the need/pressure to quit. I'm in to all this new natural stuff out like aloe and coconut water. Aloe is so good for our skin and for coating your stomach, and coconut water and milk do the same as well as immediately hydrate & load you with potassium. (which is good if ou bruise easily). Anyway, I buy what's called Aloe Gloe in white grape flavor. Individual bottles provide you with two drinks - I pour it in a glass & splash with soda water. It's also good alone. I also buy coconut water flavored with fruit juices like peach & mango & top tht with soda water as well. If you don't like sparkling water you really can't taste it because it's just a splash, not a whole glass of it with just a splash of juice. SoBe also makes lean fruit juices with 15% coconut water. I also cut pomegranate juice & tart cherry juice sometimes with it but they're not my favorite comparatively. I'm trying to tie it in to an over all health kick just for extra motivation. And I guess looking for different new trendy juices around town makes it a tiny bit more fun... rather than this just is definitely not my Sav Blanc! If they seem expensive, just think of how much we probably spent on alcohol!
Most importantly I pour it in to my large wineglass over ice - thought it might be bad for me but it really does help! Hope this helps someone in some way.
P.S. I've never even thought of non-alcoholic wine! Anyone try that??

I drink the non-alcoholic wine. I like it, it's not everybody's cup of tea. Some people think 'what's the point'. Tonight on my non-date I had AF beer and AF cocktails.

[TheSunFlower]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Just my water bottle....which goes with me everywhere. I like being sober.....so I don't need a replacement drink.

[kuya]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Cranberry juice with tonic is my goto drink with a squeeze of lemon and ice. Refreshing.

Don't like AF wine ...... Too sweet.

One cup of coffee in the morning and sometimes a chamomile tea at night.

Lots of water.

And :welcome: Back to me ....... Good name, cos that is where you are heading

[nurdl]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Infused waters are all the rage right now. My fav so far is cucumber, ginger, mint. I cut up everything and keep a big pitcher in the fridge. I keep replacing the water and then dump the fruits/veggies after two days.

My other total fav is the Master Cleanse lemonade that I just make as a regular drink. A tall glass of water, 1 TBS fresh lemon juice, 1 TBS grade B maple syrup or 1TBS agave nectar and an 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper. Love it! Not too sweet and the pepper adds a kick.

[Rip557]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

I'm a bit of a sugar free low carb Monster fiend. 1 tall boy in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Otherwise, coffee heh.

[spotlessmind]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

I have grown to love the following drinks instead of wine or vodka:

- soda water (mineral water) with a teaspoon of rosewater and the juice of a whole lemon.
- soda water with lime and a pomegranate juice with seeds in
- TEA! So many wonderful flavors of tea out there and one of my fave recipes is black tea with grated orange peel, rosewater and a pinch of cinnamon. Yum!

[Snapdragon]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Ginger beer - the hotter the better!!

[bozzer]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Uninspired;660712 wrote: Having been a undercover drinker for a few years - wine the devil of choice - followed swiftly by sharing a can (or 3) of coke out with the kids - mine being topped up with brandy, rum, whisky - whatever was in the cupboard - chasing that high as fast as possible.
I am trying to moderate - Hubby drinks and the few times I have asked for his help he said I don't have a problem, so I am facing this on my own. Today is Friday - Since Monday I have had 3 cans of beer, my usual by now would have been 6 bottles of wine - 1 and 1/2 per evening, and even if I don't start til late I can drink a bottle in half an hour - disgusting!
My issue is - what on earth do I do. Last night I drank 7 cups of tea. I am so used to having a drink in hand that I am lost. I have bought detox drinks and green tea but I am drinking those during the day. Does anyone have a solution - or a suggestion of what else is nice. - I have even tried alcohol free fizzy grape juice but it just makes me want wine.
Also - what problems/symptoms did you have due to alcohol... I have really itchy flaky scalp that I know from past experience improves when I dont drink as much.

I think thats enough for a first post.
xx:new:

try a herbal remedy called kudzu its a chinese remedy which helps with craving for alcohol hope this helps:new: i also have the same problem as you do start drinking late and finish the bottle of wine in an hour.itchy flaky scalp but i also suffer with mood swings if i dont have a drink

[LostSoul33]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

I have become obsessed with having a drink in my hand. So this is what I have come to love:

Morning:
A glass of warm water with half a squeezed lemon (great to have first thing in the am and a half hour before food). The lemon is alkalizing and detoxifies the liver. The water should be warm or room temperature as it slowly "wakes up" your organs from the rest state.

Green tea with some stevia- gives 1/3 of the caffeine in coffee without causing the jitters, stevia is a natural sugar to prevent the spike in your blood and the "crash" in the day.

Black tea is also great- gives 2/3 of the caffeine in coffee.

Breakfast smoothie, almond milk, raw cacao, maca, aloe vera, chlorophyll, chia seeds, blueberries, half a banana, blend and enjoy.

Throughout the day I sip on:

- herbal fruit teas, cold and iced
- coconut water, sometimes with sparkling water
- water, water, water

Afternoon:

Veggie juice, celery, parsley, cucumber, apple, kale, lemon and dandelion root.

Evening:

- cranberry juice (not from concentrate), its an acquired taste but I love it, it gives that "kick" that AL used to..I will drink a "shot" of it or mix with soda water
- hot water with sliced ginger and lemon
- camomile tea

[witts end]

What do you drink instead of alcohol?

Like lost soul I start the day with warm lemon water
I have a thermos with green tea lemon and ginger ready to drink
sometimes I will jazz it up by drinking it in a wine glass