Cautions Concerning
Non Alcoholic Beer
In recent years, the development of non-alcoholic beer has made many recovering alcoholics hope for the familiar
taste that they so long have wanted to experience again.
In certain circles, it has been called near beer. It is designed to look and taste exactly like traditional
beer.
However, researchers are finding out that it might be nearer to beer than anyone realizes.
One reason that is given for recovering alcoholics to stay away from non-alcoholic beer is the similarities to
drinking beer and the risk of reminding the person what it used to be like.
This could stimulate a relapse in the strongest of personalities. Another caution is that non-alcoholic beer
does contain a small amount of alcohol.
In most states, anything that is labeled to be non-alcoholic can contain no more than 5% alcohol.
For the recovering alcoholic, even this small amount can be too much for them to handle. Professionals caution
that even the familiar smell of the alcohol can trigger a relapse in the recovering alcoholic.
Both the alcohol and the anticipation of alcohol can raise levels of dopamine in the brain that cause
pleasurable feelings and feelings of elation. In most states, it is legal for minors to drink non-alcoholic
beer.
Taste, smell, and sight of alcoholic beer and lead to abuse or dependence later on in life. Similar to the
theory that young people who spend many hours watching violence have a tendency toward violence, it is believed
that non-alcoholic beer can do the same thing to young people.
Many times young people who want to mimic adult behavior, which glamorizes the use of alcohol in their minds and
again could lead to excessive alcohol use as adults, will purchase it.
Researchers and mental health professionals have equated non-alcoholic beer to other fake drugs like candy
cigarettes and strongly disapprove of their use. Anytime an addict recovers or is in the process of stopping the
use of the thing they are addicted to, they are careful to stay away from that substance.
Did You Know
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The problems that come from being raised by an alcoholic are generally
environmental and with a lot of hard work can be overcome. Generally, when a child is raised around
alcohol and excessive drinking there is a tendency for that child to use alcohol as adults.
Many times children grow up and conduct themselves and their families in a way that
is very similar to the way they were raised. It takes a conscious effort to "break the cycle" of
addiction that they have witnessed and not carry on that same lifestyle to their children.
The problems that are genetic are more difficult to overcome but once the child is
aware that her or she will have a tendency toward addiction they can change the way they deal with
stress and other risk factors to help avoid alcoholism. A gene can determine whether a person will have a tendency
toward an addiction toward alcohol.
In addition, there are personality and mental health examinations that can be done
that can let a person know if they are at risk of being an addict.
Professional addiction counselors recommend that if a person has the gene or tests
positive on the examinations they should abstain from the use of alcohol.
The genetic push toward addiction is so strong that to tempt the body by using
addictive substances is considered risky behavior and should not be attempted.
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Addiction counselors are very strict when it comes to make sure that their alcoholic clients understand the
importance of staying away from alcohol without fail.
On the surface, non-alcoholic beer seems like a good substitute for something that the alcoholic desperately
misses however, it more frequently is a painful reminder of what they have been through.
Too often, the reminder is such that it sends the alcoholic back into the activity of drinking simply from the
reminder of what it was like.
Interesting Facts
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It is a concious decision to drink and get drunk. You can not become an alcoholic if you do
not drink alcohol.
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The best advice for any recovering alcoholic is to stay completely away from anything that even smells like
alcohol in order to help stave off a relapse.
In addition, it is important to continue to follow the program that is being used to quit the alcohol and
consult the professionals in charge of the program to find out if non-alcoholic beer is acceptable in each
individual case.
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