Sobriety is abstaining from drinking all alcohol or using all drugs, right? Yes. And no.
That’s because sobriety can mean different things to different people. As with other issues relating to addiction and recovery, there is no definitive meaning of sobriety.
One big question is whether people in recovery can drink nonalcoholic beer, wine, or mocktails (drinks that resemble alcoholic mixed drinks). A number of websites include lengthy debates between recovering people who drink nonalcoholic drinks and ones who do.
Some people enjoy nonalcoholic drinks because they resemble the alcoholic ones. This resemblance allows sober people to participate in various social settings and look like other people. They say they enjoy the taste of the drinks and the rituals surrounding drinking.
Other people say that nonalcoholic beer and wine can trigger problem drinking because they look, taste, and smell like their alcoholic counterparts. Drinking such drinks might contribute to negative habits similar to habits related to alcoholic drinks.
Many people in 12-step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous are wary of nonalcoholic beverages for this reason. There might also be a small amount of alcohol in such beverages, even though people may refer to them as nonalcoholic drinks.
Many people and groups also say that there is no one solution for everyone. Sobriety means different things to different people, so people should know what works (and doesn’t work) for them to maintain their sobriety. That could mean drinking the occasional nonalcoholic glass of beer or wine or avoiding such beverages entirely.
Substance use disorder is different for different people. So is treatment from substance use disorder. And so is their continued recovery. What triggers some people might not trigger others. And what helps keep some people sober might not help others in their own recovery.
Experienced help can help people identify their triggers and ways to avoid (or handle) them. It can help them define their version of sobriety and develop ways to live it.
