https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:15:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576918 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:28:28 +0000 LuLu Mom 1576918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like PP I would say no, the taste alone may bring back the need for a recovering alcoholic so early in her recovery. Have other options on hand or ask her what she would like to drink. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576913 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:26:09 +0000 wonderstruck 1576913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No way, non-alcoholic beer still has some alcohol in it. Which totally defeats the purpose and makes the name pointless, but it's almost always the case. And like others said, the flavor could be a trigger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576887 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:12:37 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1576887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree, if its in your fridge, just leave it there. If she's looking for a drink, maybe casually mention it or just direct her to the fridge. </p> <p>But I would be more concerned about making sure there are other drink options for her (punch, soda, tea, lemonade, flavored water, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576885 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:11:38 +0000 Silva 1576885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsk: Sounds like you are being a really supportive friend! A lot of people don't understand addiction and can be unintentionally disrespectful or even put friends' recovery at risk by being thoughtless. I (and I"m sure your friend) appreciate that you are thinking of her and being so sensitive and supportive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576883 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:10:10 +0000 Mrsk 1576883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your opinions, I tend to agree that it is so similar to drinking a real beer that it could be a trigger, I've got lots of soda, juice and coffee and some sparking water to mix up a fancy fizzy drink. She doesn't know I was pregnant, two miscarriages, so perhaps I'll just leave the bottles in the back of the fridge. </p> <p>I'm just so proud of her, I really want to show my support, I don't plan of having anything to drink tonight, and will make some yummy drinks if she wants, or just some coffe/tea maybe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576877 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:07:27 +0000 yoursilverlining 1576877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: yes this - nonalcoholic beer still has some alcohol in it. I also think the act of having a "beer" might trigger the social aspects of drinking, which, like cigarettes, are one of the reasons those addictions are so hard to break. </p> <p>We have several sober friends, one drinks coffee like it's going out of style, the other likes craft or local (aka, nice! Lol) soda. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576852 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:58:51 +0000 lawbee11 1576852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: My mom made a similar one for my baby shower and it was SO GOOD! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576846 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:57:16 +0000 littlebug 1576846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't offer it. Most non-alcoholic beer still has SOME booze in it. I have a friend who is 10 years sober and still buys special mouthwash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576836 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:52:18 +0000 blackbird 1576836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would make a delicious punch. </p> <p>If you're up to it, I made a GREAT one for E's bday. It had a can of pink lemonade, ginger ale, pineapple juice, and raspberry sherbert. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576828 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:46:45 +0000 MamaMoose 1576828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah definitely not. Many non-alc beers have small amounts of alcohol in it. Not to mention the taste would be a big trigger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576827 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:46:07 +0000 MsLipGloss 1576827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, don't offer it. Do have a fun punch/ drink available though. It could be as simple as lemonade or sprite/7up mixed with fruit punch. I am sure your other guests would enjoy that too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576824 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:45:30 +0000 knittylady 1576824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't offer. DH is 13 years sober and likes funky sodas, seltzer and COFFEE!!! While non alcoholic beer may not technically be breaking sobriety, it is considered a slippery slope. Plus it honk there's a touch of alcohol in it in which case it WOULD be breaking sobriety.</p> <p>It's really thoughtful tht you're thinking of how to be inclusive :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576817 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:42:39 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1576817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely a no. A better gesture may be abstaining yourself to show support maybe ? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576816 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:41:42 +0000 pinkb 1576816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I have many recovering friends and none of them drink non alcoholic beer. Most drink soda, lots of coffee, or sparking water or cider at gatherings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576815 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:41:37 +0000 lawbee11 1576815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: It can be a trigger for some recovering alcoholics, especially if they've only been sober a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576813 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:41:07 +0000 lamariniere 1576813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't offer it either. I agree with @Foodnerd81: have some exciting non alcoholic drinks on hand or maybe whip up some mocktails. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576811 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:40:26 +0000 Silva 1576811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>nope, don't do it. have things like cans or bottles of seltzer, soda, etc.<br /> It could be a trigger, and some non-alcoholic beers do contain small amounts of alcohol (up to .5% I think). Some people are comfortable with that, others are not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576805 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:36:20 +0000 Foodnerd81 1576805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't offer it. I would make sure to have a few interesting drinks like flavored seltzer, soda, whatever, instead of only water, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576803 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:34:45 +0000 swedishfish 1576803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't offer it either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576800 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:32:53 +0000 Mae 1576800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't buy it special for her but if it is already in your fridge I don't see the issue in mentioning it? Like hey... what do you want to drink? I've got water, coke, juice, and non-alcoholic beer left over from my pregnancy? I just wouldn't make it a big deal. If she doesn't want it she'll say no. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576795 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:27:11 +0000 lawbee11 1576795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't offer it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576793 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:25:26 +0000 regberadaisy 1576793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say if she's only one year sober then no. I feel like a beverage in a typically alcoholic container is almost like a tease. </p> <p>I know recovering alcoholics who drink NA beer at social events. But they've been sober for many years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/non-alcoholic-beer-for-recovering-alcoholic-friend#post-1576788 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:22:25 +0000 Mrsk 1576788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My best friend from childhood just recently told me she is an alcoholic and has been sober for a year, I'm so proud of her. She is coming tonight to visit as she is back in our home town for Easter weekend. She said she doesn't mind if others drink in front of her, but I'm wondering if it would be a faux pas to offer her a non alcoholic beer? I have some left over from when I was pregnant. Obviously if she doesn't want it she can always say no thanks, but do you think the act of just offering it is rude or insensitive? On one hand I think offering a recovering alcoholic an alcoholic drink it terrible, but on the other hand it's non alcoholic and I want to make sure she feels special and has something nice to drink and it doesn't have any alcohol in it..... I'm not sure if I should offer her one or not. What do you think? </p>