I agree. I have 25 years of sobriety and a few years ago I thought I ordered an Arnold Palmer but evidently ordered a Long Island iced tea. Big difference, but I wasn't paying attention and took the first drink. I obviously sent it back and was shaken up for a bit, but I my intention is what matters. I see it as a funny (in hindsight) anecdote in my journey. My unsolicited advice: give yourself grace.
I thought my cough medicine story would turn into a funny story (and it would have) but to this day, my boyfriend feels so guilty about it, even though I’ve spent more than a decade telling him that it’s fine!!
I feel like NA drinks make this tricky… I had a sip of what I thought was NA champagne and was frantically texting my sponsor two minutes later. His advice was if you’re going to freak out over an accidental sip of “hard” beer or wine maybe avoid the NA versions of those beverages.
NA drinks definitely increase the risk of mixups happening! I know it's one reason many people in recovery stay away from them. But it's wild how easily it can happen in other situations. My dad once got a vodka soda instead of a club soda for no apparent reason (other than everyone else at the table was drinking, so I guess the server assumed?)
I once took a big gulp from a glass of ginger ale that actually turned out to be bourbon and club soda. My therapist assured me that accidental ingestion of alcohol was just that, an accident.
It wasn't intentional so to my mind no break in sobriety.
However, the question in my mind is why the need for NA beer or whatever. Why not a soft drink, mineral water etc. I have always been total abstinence, no drink no mock drinks no alcohol in food no spending time in drinking establishments. I had to completely change my old ideas, after sitting in a pub drinking orange juice when the thought a shandy half would be nice. Two weeks later I came out of the blackout having had my last drink. I don't even have fish pie with white wine sauce now. For me the association is just as powerful in the mind as the act.
I agree. I have 25 years of sobriety and a few years ago I thought I ordered an Arnold Palmer but evidently ordered a Long Island iced tea. Big difference, but I wasn't paying attention and took the first drink. I obviously sent it back and was shaken up for a bit, but I my intention is what matters. I see it as a funny (in hindsight) anecdote in my journey. My unsolicited advice: give yourself grace.
I thought my cough medicine story would turn into a funny story (and it would have) but to this day, my boyfriend feels so guilty about it, even though I’ve spent more than a decade telling him that it’s fine!!
I feel like NA drinks make this tricky… I had a sip of what I thought was NA champagne and was frantically texting my sponsor two minutes later. His advice was if you’re going to freak out over an accidental sip of “hard” beer or wine maybe avoid the NA versions of those beverages.
NA drinks definitely increase the risk of mixups happening! I know it's one reason many people in recovery stay away from them. But it's wild how easily it can happen in other situations. My dad once got a vodka soda instead of a club soda for no apparent reason (other than everyone else at the table was drinking, so I guess the server assumed?)
I once took a big gulp from a glass of ginger ale that actually turned out to be bourbon and club soda. My therapist assured me that accidental ingestion of alcohol was just that, an accident.
I'm glad you had someone who could talk you through it. It's such a weird feeling!
Yes!
It wasn't intentional so to my mind no break in sobriety.
However, the question in my mind is why the need for NA beer or whatever. Why not a soft drink, mineral water etc. I have always been total abstinence, no drink no mock drinks no alcohol in food no spending time in drinking establishments. I had to completely change my old ideas, after sitting in a pub drinking orange juice when the thought a shandy half would be nice. Two weeks later I came out of the blackout having had my last drink. I don't even have fish pie with white wine sauce now. For me the association is just as powerful in the mind as the act.