My initial dalliance with the world of alcohol free drinks (AF) was when I bought a case of de-alcoholised wine for my very first Christmas not spent submerged in a booze-fuelled fog. It was horrible, full of sediment and tasting of gone-off grape juice, and left me feeling deeply unsatisfied, wishing I could still drink the real thing. Following that experience, I didn’t bother with ‘replacement’ drinks for quite a while and generally stuck to ginger beer or sparkling mineral water whenever I went out.
Be less conspicuous ?
On Soberistas.com there is mixed opinion with regards to alcohol free drinks. Some will tell you to steer well clear due to the fact that cravings may be stirred for the alcoholic variety, whereas others find the many different booze-less drinks now on the market to be a brilliant way of avoiding feeling left out or appearing conspicuous for their sobriety in social situations.
Personally, now that I have five years of sober living behind me, I enjoy alcohol-free beer on a fairly regular basis. I don’t bother with wine as have never found one that quite cuts the mustard, and anyway, drinking even de-alcoholised wine would, I suspect, transport me straight back to those dark days I spent quaffing bottles of the alcoholic version alone, depressed and living a life in which I consistently fell way short of my potential. It’s not something I want to be reminded of.
I like beer with my curry
AF beer, on the other hand, is a nice accompaniment to curry, which I love, and is also a refreshing drink on a hot day. These days, I perceive it as just ‘a drink’ like I might do cola or lemonade; unlike AF wine, it doesn’t hold those gloomy associations with my old miserable drinking life.
Recently, Soberistas partnered up with DryDrinker, a new, award-winning online store selling a massive range of alcohol-free and low alcohol drinks. We are offering all our subscribers a 20% discount on DryDrinker products making this an easy and reasonably priced option if you want to be teetotal but don’t want to miss out on having a beer. See http://www.drydrinker.com/ for details.
Give alcohol free drinks a go, but be honest
My advice on alcohol free drinks would be to just give them a go, and to be brutally honest with yourself about whether or not they spark up desires for the real thing. If they do then avoid and look for a tasty alternative instead – there are some really good, grown-up cordials now available (look for http://www.luscombe.co.uk/ and http://www.bottlegreendrinks.com/).
Whatever you decide to put in your glass, the most important thing is that you enjoy it and it keeps you in a safe and healthy place!”
Editor’s note
Drydrinker only deliver to the UK but you can get around this by using An Post’s Address pal or Parcel Motel services.
Larger supermarkets, specialist food shops and health food shops do stock the Luscombe and Bottlegreen drinks.
