Hi everyone,
This might be a blonde question but I am genuinely curious to know what others have substituted alcoholic drinks with? I actually really like the taste of alcohol (wine in particular) and don’t like anything sweet like soft drinks or fruit juice, so I was wondering what on earth to drink apart from bland old water. I have a bit of an oral fixation as well so will need to drink something instead of wine.
Thanks!
"I actually really like the taste of alcohol"
Learn to unlike. If you crave the taste still it does not bode well for the future. The advice is to stay away from any mocktails, "alcohol free" beer/wine etc as it nearly always ends in tears. there are plenty of other drinks than what you mentioned, its just a case of spreading your wings.
Hi why do you advise to stay away from non alcoholic drinks? If it’s someone’s coping mechanism then crack on is my thoughts
lots of research shows it often leads to relapse and also shows you aren't ready to out what hurt you behind you. Assuming cause is ARLD
Hi don’t want to sound obnoxious but it is all in the mind I’m afraid! No armature sicology can help if you’re hell bent on returning to old ways!
Each to their own 🙂, one view is backed by science and research and there is a bit more to it all "in the mind" when the brains chemistry is fundamentally changed.
I had to sign an agreement before my transplant saying alcohol free drinks are to be treated as full on alcohol for example before being listed. Also so such thing as true 0% beer etc, 0.003% in not 0
Soda and lime cordial isn't sweet and a healthy choice. I chose not to go out to pubs at all for over 6 months- now if my partner or son have a couple of beers I can't stand the smell. Even my glasses lens cleaner wipes stink as they have alcohol. You need to learn to hate all alcohol, enjoy being normal and never having a hangover. Good luck. I have been where you are....my other half would not let me buy alcohol substitutes as he said I need to let go and be a new person. And he was so right. Take care x
I never thought I’d ever be comfortable being in a pub drinking sparkling water...but I am. I drank wine....rather a lot of it...and ended up with a problem both in controlling how much I drank of the stuff and from a health perspective when I ended up in hospital with a deep rooted infection which had prompted acute on chronic liver failure. I nearly didn’t get out of there. That was March 2021. I haven’t touched a drop since then. Been to weddings, birthday celebrations, country pub lunches and summer bbqs - not even a craving. At first I needed a substitute...milk became mine (very odd!) but there’s actually really good scientific evidence that it aids sleep and is calming (tryptophan is present in high levels) I also became a connoisseur on orangeade and squash! Asda have the best...forget the Waitrose stuff- I’ve tried them all! As time has passed so has my need for a substitute. I sometimes have a glass of milk before I go to bed and enjoy a hot chocolate in the winter but I’ve found I don’t need a substitute these days in the way I did when I first stopped drinking alcohol. I suppose I’ve found other mechanisms to relax. I’ve found sparkling water with ice and lemon keeps everyone at bay when I’m at social events because everyone assumes it’s a G&T. It stops people trying to get me to have a drink and I’ve found my abstinence is now more a problem for others than me!
I totally understand the milk! Been having a bit of a craving for it lately and I do recall in the past (before) I used to have a glass or two of milk as my nightcap before bed, so will revert to that again I think. 👍
Dandelion and Burdoch, (reduced sugar) I used to hate the stuff, for some reason now I crave it, the liquorice taste probably, as before my diet I used to eat a bag of all sorts daily.... It's also the only thing I can tolerate when I get attacks of Acute cholecystitis, which unfortunately I've been experiencing lately due to gallstones.
line and any other squash still sugary, try PLJ which is stabilised pure lemon juice, just add water to taste.
I'm not sure if your liver issue is alcohol related or not so can't answer fully but speaking as the mum of a young man who has autoimmune hepatitis and can't ever drink alcohol... he has Nozzeco wine (M&S, Tesco versions are all nice snd cheaper too than the alcoholic versions but beware the sugar content!) and 0% beer shandy.There are gin and rum substitutes also.
It means he can sit with something in a glass that's similar to his friends if out.
He's only 19.
He has accepted his fate with a sensible wise beyond his years attitude.
Even the sugary drinks he loved occasionally are now off his diet list.
He is happy to drink water, weak squash, zero sugar fizzy drinks while out but its a treat and makes him feel a little more 'normal' with his friends and family.
I hope you find a good non alcoholic drink that tastes good.
Thank you so much for sharing! Absolutely superb advice! 😊 Thankfully during our extreme lockdown in SA that banned alcohol we have had some wonderful nonalcoholic alternatives developed and produced locally so even the price is excellent so I will take a wander through the many options available. 😊
My Uncle lives in SA and he was never without- now very worried about how much "stock" he keeps 😅
Oh sjoe yes some people have never gotten over the shock! Some of the trolleys one sees at payday are alarming to say the least. 👀 It has made alcohol misuse in general far far worse and many still hold onto FOMO. People I know who were fairly low to moderate drinkers suddenly went wild when they lifted the ban and most haven’t stopped since. Much the same as with the smoking. Moderate smokers now buy cartons 🤦♀️ I always say the bans were like taking a kid’s candy away and then suddenly giving it back and expecting them to behave.
Sorry I’m rambling. 🤪
Hi!
I was exactly the same. But after a few months sober I tried non alcoholic beer. A risk I know, but still drink it a couple of nights a week to this day, and I’m 18 months sober now. A lot will advise you against it. But each to their own - works for me! Even when I’m out with friends I still can have that feeling of a cold beer in my hand.
Approach with care though!
Nick
Yes I will definitely monitor myself closely. We had a few months in South Africa of no alcohol sold anywhere so I tried nonalcoholic wine and found it rather lovely and an excellent substitute so will be giving it a bash.
try Tetleys squash it’s a very pleasant drink not sweet like others buy it in bulk when it’s on offer at around a £1. All the best
a lot more tea!
Despite others stating “each to their own” - a point on nonalcoholic beverages or rather an opinion. For me they’re a no-no as I believe I had to change my attitude as well as my behaviour and I believe those kinds of drinks are “holding on” to something I had to move away from. Also in a way they could be seen almost like a “gateway drug” - I’d likely at times start thinking about the “real” thing. This is not a dig at anyone else just stating I think for people with liver disease but especially people with ARLD and a history of problem drinking caution (understatement) is very important especially in the early days of abstinence.
Have you tried Schloer? It tastes quite like wine imo. I had a fixation with alcohol in general, I Found it helpful to try new things, I've developed a taste for fruit tea! Never thought I'd say that lol.
Hope you find something to help x
it depends on if you want a transplant! I don’t so I drink zero percent wine, but I know the risk that I could swap back at any time! It’s very high risk so I don’t recommend it, if you might need a transplant or want one in the future, then you have to find something else! Zero % counts as still drinking! Try ginger ale or tonic with ice and a slice. Good luck
Guiness 0.0
hi there
There are loads of non alcoholic versions of beers, wine and some spirit. Sainsbury’s do a good dry rose and a branded red which is really nice.
There are also online retailers which specialise in low/non alcoholic drinks
I actually have a question about this. I was recently diagnosed with F3 liver fibrosis after having non alcoholic liver disease for 30 years. Is the only reason to abstain from no alcohol whiskey, rum, tequila occasionally because you might crave actual alcohol or is it bad for the liver? I would like something like that to sip on maybe one glass a week.
You can always drink non alcoholic wine it's a lot of will power but works for me I've even got to the point of going to family piss up and enjoy myself with out the fight it's what works for me not everyone will just please be very confident before you try be safe and GUD luck
Ginger beer!
I think ginger beer has some alcohol. I drink diet ginger ale. Refreshing and cheap.
Hi JH. I'm 6.5 years post liver transplant. Just over 7 years sober. In my case I was a long time drinker. If you are a drinker then you must stay away from anything that tastes like or mocks an alcoholic beverage. It's just not worth the risk. You have to be the person who can drink iced tea, sparkling water or any other beverage comfortably while others drink alcohol. Or find other things to do. I Apologize if I sound harsh. But I think we lose sight of the fact that we all are or have lost our livers for different reasons and and are now asking for the gift of a new life, look for new ways to live. Don't try to replace what didn't work the first time. IMHO.
Totally agree from an addiction point of view, but some of us on here have autoimmune diseases rather than alcohol related liver disease so although we are avoiding alcohol, substitutes can be OK.
Agree
Ginger beer, ginger ale, lime and soda with lots of ice when we are out and about. But sainsbury's non alcoholic rose well chilled goes with most things and it's under £5. (someone else has posted a picture of it above) When my husband went for a transplant assessment at kings college they said no non alcoholic wines etc as this may tempt you. But be careful, sainsbury's is 0.05% alcohol which is considered non alcoholic but 0.5% means it has a trace of alcohol but considered non alcoholic in europe. Also chilled fruit teas, ginger tea and mint tea and if you can get them mixed with green tea they contain even more antioxidants. Good luck with the tasting.
mock wines are sold on line many different types non alcoholic
I know for those with ARLD non alcoholic versions such as zero alcohol beer and wine are strongly recommended to avoid. For my partner who is on the transplant list it is a condition of his remaining listed that he agrees to not touch them, just as he won't touch alcohol. The thinking being that if you start to drink those it is a much smaller step to starting drinking again. He was very much questioned about this prior to being listed - just as much as they questioned him about drinking alcohol as it says a lot about a persons mindset. I guess if you are not someone who has issues with alcohol the main thing to be aware of is that some of these so called alcohol free drinks do actually contain alcohol. Again, if listed for transplant for whatever reason you are asked to remain completely alcohol free
Fevertree have an excellent range of mixers - but actually lovely, different flavours to drink on there own or with a squeeze of fresh lemon/lime. Many restaurants and pubs have these too. They're a little bit expensive as every day drinks but nice when you feel like something a bit special and deserving. 😊 No more expensive than alcohol anyways!
Since my diagnoses and my consultant telling me not to drink alcohol whatsoever, I have J20 when I go out for family ocassions and never look back really. I have been of the alcohol for a year now. My advice is to stay off any booze and think about your liver and wanting to live.
Cawston fruit juice.
All the taste, absolutely no additives, particularly artificial sweeteners, so a bit sharper, bit more pricey but worth it. Apple and ginger is yummy.
But I totally agree with you I loved and completely miss a vodka and .... xxx
Mostly a distant dream. But as my issues are mostly behind me I wil be honest and I do occasionally dabble.
I always thought of all the alcoholic beverages, a red wine is supposed to be good for you in moderation. But it can be a slippery slope. You know where this is going.
But you only live once, sadly we only have one liver.
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