Alcohol free drinks

[Aotea2012]

Over the weekend I went to a neighbours barbecue. I didn’t want to appear antisocial, so went for an hour. I said I was off alcohol. I didn’t go into detail...I gave up alcohol over a year ago due to liver disease, and I’m pleased to report that I’m well. I enjoyed my drink...it was a bit different. I noticed as I was leaving it looked remarkably like a bottle of gin. I took a look, and it was fortunately alcohol free, but it was an adult botanical drink. I’m not sure about it and wondered what people thought. I’ve always thought alcohol free drinks a bit dangerous. In hindsight it looked a bit like pink gin but didn’t taste very gin like.

[Cat-B]

I think it depends on each person, I decide not to have a transplant and zero percent wine helped me stop drinking alcohol, I’m now 7 years post diagnosis and have got normal liver function. Lots of driver are having zero percent and it’s wonderful that your neighbors had thought of that. The best gin is Gordon’s alcohol free and there’s some wonderful wines, beers and ciders out there. I would say give it a go but if it triggers the taste for the real stuff then it’s not for you. Good luck

[Aotea2012 in reply to Cat-B]

Yes, they’d got it for the people driving as we live in the countryside and there were a lot of people driving. They also had alcohol free beer and cider, but I’ve always kept away from those. It didn’t taste like gin at all...it was very dry and spicy. It had ginger in it. It was very nice and certainly didn’t remind me of an alcoholic drink. It was only seeing the bottle when I left that got me thinking.

[bcsurfer]

Hi....Congratulations! You survived one of the biggest social challenges when you don't drink.

I treated not drinking the same way I treated giving up smoking. "I don't smoke". Saying "I'm trying to give up" seemed to present a window to smokers to tempt with one more!

I happily say to people that I don't drink, that it was a choice I made and I couldn't care less if anyone else drinks. It's not a judgement.

ALCOHOL FREE DRINKS. First up I know that if you were being assessed for a liver transplant drinking zero alcohol beverages is reg flagged as a sign you might stray and reduce your chances in the pecking order. I think this attitude is changing.

As for safe they are entirely safe. ZERO means Zero. 0.0. 0.05% is also safe. In Europe 0.5% is considered alcohol free. Arguably it isn't but let me put that in to context.

There is as much alcohol in a ripe banana (0.5%) as there is in the beer, wine or spirit equivalent. Anything with the ability to ferment creates alcohol, including bread.

Alcohol is in more things you consume daily than you realise but in small, safe quantities. You're body processes 0.5% alcohol in 17 minutes. You'd really have to put the hours in to feel any effects from drinking alcohol in these ratios!

All I would say, is that if you ever feel that the taste of beer, wine or gin is not enough and it is pushing you towards "the hit" then stick to soft drinks without the association. We're all different but you can safely enjoy these.

[Aotea2012 in reply to bcsurfer]

Thanks. Yes I’m used to socialising now without a drink. I’ve done a boozy family wedding, a Xmas and a six nations rugby match....all alcohol free! I’ve learnt other people have more of a problem than me...I’ve found a drop of apple juice in soda water in a flute glass is great. Lemonade with ice and lemon in a tall glass keeps people from asking. Ribena in a wine glass has the same effect! I’ve never strayed into alcohol free drinks...just not tried them...I’d repeat the botanical as it wasn’t really gin like. Not sure about the beer as I think it would taste like beer...so why risk the test?

[Rshc]

You are doing amazing. My partner gave up on the 22.12.21 - went through medical detox but he has coped surprisingly well. His transplant co-ordinator has said no non alcoholic alternatives as it can be a smaller step for some people to start drinking again if it proves to be a trigger. I would say the non alcoholic beer is probably the closest to a real drink. I really don't get why people have such an issue with people socialising but not drinking, I have given up to support my partner and I get it as well.

[Aotea2012 in reply to Rshc]

Yes, I’ve been surprised at other people’s reactions. It’s made me really think about the way alcohol is positioned in this country.

[Positive001]

Hi Aotea. I would recommend taking what you would normally drink with you to gatherings, you've already shown great strength telling them you are off alcohol, in future l would add ' So l will bring my own.' That way you can be absolutely sure you are not being given drinks which claim to be alcohol free but may contain a certain amount. Just holding a wine glass containing a wine substitute, as is well documented,can lead all to often back to the real thing. When we have family gatherings and bbqs, l always ask my guests to bring their own alcoholic drinks if they want them as l refuse to buy it. So you see it can work both ways and becomes the norm.

Enjoy the summer 😀👍

Laura x

[Aotea2012 in reply to Positive001]

Yes that’s a good idea. I’m not really remotely tempted to drink to be honest, it’s just adjusting to social settings. I’m dealing with their problems not mine really. My family are great...they are incredibly careful what they give me as are close friends that know my situation. It’s just meeting up with strangers. I’ve just moved house so my neighbours are new. So bring my own clears all hurdles!

[Positive001 in reply to Aotea2012]

You're doing brilliantly! Yes the problem is with others not yourself. The new neighbours will just have to get used to their new neighbours who looks after themselves ( maybe they will even follow your example 😉) Pleased you have good family around you.

[Aotea2012 in reply to Positive001]

My brother saw how ill I was and my cousin even walked passed my bed in hospital because she didn’t recognise me. I don’t think either would let me within a country mile of alcohol! I’ve noticed my brother sometimes sneakily checks my bottle bin...he thinks I haven’t noticed. I’ve self regulated...he doesn’t need to worry. My neighbours are lovely...just unaware of my situation and were just being neighbourly. They have lovely chickens and I get beautiful fresh eggs every day now...so didn’t want to turn them down on the bbq. Bringing my own is a good idea though. Who knows, I may even be able to convert them to my orange squash!

[Positive001 in reply to Aotea2012]

Wonderful.

Same as me when l visited my husband in hospital after his 2nd detox. I walked round the bay he was in with his name on the door. All l saw were old very poorly men most of whom were sleeping. I had to go back to reception to ask again where he was. The nurse pointed and said over there on the right by the window. My husand was in his early 50s but he looked 80+ l just didn't recognise my once handsome husband laying there. Very sad.

[Hidden]

I have found people are fine if I tell them the whole truth - that I have a liver disease.

Also I would buy my own in that situation as (as has been said) you know what you're drinking and also I have found alcohol free lagers (what I drink and are nowadays not far off the real thing) are twice the price of the alcoholic ones - as my dear Husband likes to point out every time we go out for a drink!!!

I don't find them triggering, I quite like the fact that I can drink a few, go home and actually remember going home and wake with no hangover!!

[Aotea2012]

Yes I will tell them. It’s just not the first thing I wanted to talk about...which is my problem not theirs. Squash is cheaper! I think the stuff they gave me was about £10 a bottle....so not something I’m going to rush down the supermarket aisles for. Why is non alcohol so expensive?! Has it become fashionable or something? Didn’t realise I was on trend....very unlike me!

[Springwater22]

Yes the non alcohol drinks are very expensive unfortunately, I read somewhere it's because the companies say the production process is often the same as their alcoholic versions but seems like an easy thing to say 😏

My hubby has cirrhosis but from a genetic condition, he has never had an issue with alcohol. So he does drink the AF drinks, ciders and prosecco etc. We're always careful to make sure they are 0.5% or below. I find some of them really nice, the Tanqueray AF gin is brilliant and I treat myself to a posher tonic with it. Corona AF beers are brilliant, they taste like the real thing for me and very refreshing on a summer day. Obviously I understand why people who have had issues with alcohol should be very careful about AF drinks but for those that can't or don't want to drink for other reasons, the drinks are pretty good.

[Aotea2012 in reply to Springwater22]

I stumbled on it by chance really. I’m not sure it’s worth the premium! Having got into trouble with alcohol, I think it’s probably safer to stick to my squash!