If you’ve experienced alcoholism, you may be wondering whether drinking and even brewing non alcoholic beer for alcoholics is a safe idea. In this quick read, we help you decide.
Alcoholism is a debilitating disease that affects countless people around the world. It is a very challenging yet deeply personal journey that involves a complete abstinence from alcohol. In recent years, the availability of non-alcoholic beers has led to a rise in the popularity of their use as a substitute for those seeking the taste of a beer, without the effects of the alcohol. As every alcoholic’s journey is distinctly unique, non-alcoholic beers may or may not be a safe alternative.
Is Non Alcoholic Beer Safe for Alcoholics?
It’s important to remember that although they are commonly referred to as non-alcoholic, these beers still have some alcoholic content. To qualify as a non-alcoholic beer, they must contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. As a result, there is a belief that drinking non-alcoholic beers can be a viable alternative for those recovering from alcoholism, however, this may not always be the case.
Triggers and Cravings
The vast majority of non-alcoholic beers have the same taste and aromas as traditional beers. For those suffering from alcoholism, simply consuming a non-alcoholic beer can trigger cravings for the real thing. For this reason, recovering alcoholics should refrain from consuming any form of beer, whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic in nature.
Alcohol Content
To be considered a non-alcoholic beer, it must contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. Because of this, non-alcoholic beer is not always alcohol-free. For those suffering from alcoholism, even minute amounts of alcohol can trigger a desire for stronger beverages. This low alcohol content can provide a false sense of safety, which can result in an increased consumption of the beer.
Support System
For anyone who is recovering from alcoholism, having a stable support system is important to ensuring continued sobriety. For most, Alcoholics Anonymous is the most widely available support system for recovering alcoholics around the globe. Accordingly, those who are in the 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program should refrain from consuming any form of beer, including non-alcoholic varieties.
Alternative Beverages
For recovering alcoholics, there are a wide variety of other non-alcoholic alternatives to choose from. However, due to the flavors used to produce many of these beverages, they may also carry some form of risk of triggering cravings.
Research on Non Alcoholic Beer for Alcoholics Safety
Over the years, there have been a number of excellent studies on the effectiveness of various approaches to the successful treatment of alcoholism. However, there has been very little research into the efficacy of non-alcoholic beverages as a safe alternative. The lack of studies can be attributed to the nature of the addiction and the path to recovery. The concept of “do no harm” makes it a challenge to conduct any large-scale controlled study on the topic.
Harm Reduction
In recent years, several strategies have been introduced that advocate the use of non-alcoholic beer as a safer choice for those who would otherwise be incapable of complete abstinence. The strategy itself focuses on reducing the overall negative consequences of the use of alcohol, rather than achieving complete sobriety.
Placebo Effect
While limited studies have been conducted over the years, there has been an anecdotal placebo effect that suggests that simply drinking a non-alcoholic beer can help with specific cravings. The physical act of consuming a beverage that looks, feels, tastes, and even smells like an alcoholic beverage, can satisfy the psychological aspect of the addiction to alcohol in some individuals.
Individual Variability
Everyone’s path to recovery is distinct to the individual. As a result, the methods that will work as a safe alternative for one person may function as a trigger for another. Replacing alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beers may help some while harming others. It is essential to work closely with a healthcare professional to determine whether or not the substitution with non-alcoholic beers is an option.
Common Questions on Alcoholism & Non Alcoholic Beer
Can You Become Dependent on Non-Alcoholic Beer?
Due to the low alcohol-by-volume content of non-alcoholic beers, the possibility of becoming physically dependent upon the beer is relatively low. However, psychological dependence is an entirely different situation.
Psychological dependence can occur through the regular or habitual consumption of non-alcoholic beers. This dependence can also manifest itself as a form of coping mechanism, especially for those who are recovering from alcoholism and see non-alcoholic beers as a safe substitute.
Are Non-Alcoholic Beers Allowed as Part of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the largest support groups for recovering alcoholics around the globe. It is an official stance of Alcoholics Anonymous that the consumption of non-alcoholic beer as a substitute for alcoholic varieties is not compatible with the concept of sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous emphasizes its system of complete abstinence from any form of alcohol including non-alcoholic varieties.
The biggest reason for its stance against the consumption of non-alcoholic beers is the potential risks that they can pose to individuals who are recovering from alcoholism. Even the consumption of a single can of non-alcoholic beer can act as a trigger to those suffering from this debilitating disease. As a result, many members of Alcoholics Anonymous who have attempted to substitute alcoholic beer with non-alcoholic, have struggled with their sobriety or relapsed altogether.
Final Words on Non Alcoholic Beer for Alcoholics Safety
Ultimately, alcoholism is a very personal journey and the safety of non alcoholic beer for alcoholics doesn’t have a clear black-and-white answer. It is the stance of AlcoFreeBrew that if you are a recovering alcoholic, we don’t recommend that you experiment with brewing fermented beverages such as beer, even if they are technically deemed non-alcoholic, due to the risk of relapse that non-alcoholic beers can pose to many people recovering from alcoholism. Before making a decision, please speak to the professional healthcare providers and support people in your recovery network, to determine the best path for your personal highest good.
Brewing non alcoholic beer for alcoholics presents another major concern, which is the fact that the brewing process will always naturally and unavoidably produce alcohol. Therefore, before embarking on brewing, it is very important to understand that all beers and other fermented drinks contain some alcohol as part of the fermentation process. Even a slight deviation from the beer brewing recipe and steps, could accidentally cause a much higher alcohol content than intended. For this reason, AlcoFreeBrew does not support alcoholics engaging in home brewing non-alcoholic beers or other fermented beverages from this website.
Need Help?
If you are concerned about your alcohol intake and need further help, please reach out to the many support programs in your country that are there to lend a hand and provide more information on the safety of non alcoholic beer for alcoholics. In the USA, these include:
- American Addiction Centers alcohol.org
- Alcoholics Anonymous aa.org
- Resurgence Behavioural Health resurgencebehavioralhealth.com
