Successfully, I am recovering from my addiction with alcohol to find I still enjoy a glass of wine. I have a wine dilemma, do I allow myself a glass of wine? Wine-no or wine-not are my choices.
My Wine Dilemma
My History with Alcohol
First let me explain… I do not discriminate. For thirty years of my life I learned to love all types of alcohol.
In college it was beer. I settled for the cheap beer, the beer one would find in a keg, located in a dingy basement.
In my early to mid twenties it was wine. I discovered the magnum bottle of wine, the wine in the big bottle, or better yet, boxed in a pretty package.
And into adulthood my taste matured to liquor. The evening started with a mixed drink, because we know liquor before beer never fear!
I think you get it! It should be clear, alcohol has evolved into each stage of my life. Today I find myself at a new stage.
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Beer
The cheap beer I once drank, 4.4% Rolling Rock, evolved into the trendy craft beers, 7% IPA. Today I prefer alcohol-free beers. I might enjoy the taste of the beer, but have no desire for the effects. After drinking one non-alcoholic beer I am satisfied.
A sampling of non-alcoholics beers offers choices.
In my opinion the non-alcoholic beers I consume taste very similar to their alcoholic counterparts. I can choose to enjoy the taste, without the obsession for a second. For a beer on a hot summer day Heineken 00 or a Corona Non-Alcoholic is refreshing. If I am in the mood for something hardier I will settle for either Samuel Adams, Just the Haze, or Athletic Brewing Company, Hazy IPA.
Or my favorite non-alcoholic brew Guinness 0.0 if you prefer a smooth and balanced beer. Surprisingly, Guinness is a low calorie Stout which is smooth with a rich coffee flavor. In comparison, the regular Guinness has only 4.5% ABV. It is a great alternative for someone who enjoys a full body alcoholic beer, but mindful of their alcohol intake.
Liquor
Cocktails have transitioned into mocktails. If going out to dinner and I want to join everyone else for a before dinner drink, I will choose a mocktail. At one time I craved an expresso or lemon-drop martini, but today I don’t see a purpose in drinking cocktails.
I have had a pre-mixed margarita, but prefer to have the non-alcoholic variety, which is just as tasty. Straight tequila never did interest me. I would only partake in a shot if it was a group activity, but not drink alcohol straight.
Trending Non-alcoholic Spirits for Mocktails
There has never been a better time to experiment with mixology. Influencers and celebrity are bringing awareness to healthy beverage alternatives.
Wine. My real dilemma.
This is where I need to ask myself the question, “Wine-no or wine-not?” Admittedly, I really do enjoy wine. I like the taste. I like how it complements food. Simply put… I think I might be a wine-oholic!
The problem I have with wine is that non-alcoholic wines suck or at least I haven’t found one I like. So then the question might be, “Am I an alcoholic because I desire a glass of wine?” I don’t think so, because it isn’t the feeling of being inebriated that I obsess over, but the taste. And I truly find one glass of wine will satisfy that taste.
There are healthy options.
The problem is that most wines are high in alcohol content, so I am putting my sobriety at risk. But the good news, and it is very good news for the wine-oholic, the vineyards are recognizing America’s problem with alcohol. There are several good options for lower-calorie, less ABV wines to enjoy without compromising a healthy lifestyle.
Wouldn’t you know Kim Crawford, a New Zealand wine maker, which makes what used to be my favorite Sauvignon Blanc (12.5-14% ABV) offers a low calorie, 7% alternative, Illuminate Sauvignon Blanc. Although I will allow myself one glass of wine, when given the option this is what I prefer.
The Wino’s Wine Dilemma
Wino per Dictionary.com is an indiscriminate drinker of wine or other readily available alcoholic beverages who is frequently intoxicated, especially a derelict who lives on the streets. During the time when I abused alcohol, I may not have been the dictionary version of a wino, but admittedly so, I have stumbled on the streets and have been in a derelict condition.
The question is… “Do you drink the wine?” No or sure, why not? Only you can answer this question. For me it took careful consideration before I could introduce alcohol back into my lifestyle. I lived the non-alcoholic lifestyle for approximately 18 months. During that time I did the work needed to evaluate my life.
How to tell if I have a drinking problem?
We have a decision to make… “What kind of woman do I want to be?” The alcohol clouds our decision making and masks our struggles. It was necessary to abstain for a period of time and my decision is to fixate on myself, not the alcohol I consume.
I say wine-not.
Mindfulness is a practice I have put into place when deciding on a glass of wine. This allows me the confidence to say, “wine-not.” To learn more about learn more about mindful drinking read “What is mindful drinking? How can it help your mental health?”
It is a personal choice on how someone handles their sobriety. Many of my friends who I have met along the way have decided to forgo alcohol all together. My choice is to not give alcohol the attention it thinks it deserves. Sobriety can mean different things to different people. To truly have a sober-mind, it is about my priorities and keeping my relationship with Christ right. To learn more about sober-minded read Sobriety Challenged or Sober-minded.
“But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”
2 Timothy 4:5 NLT
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