Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease that affects millions of Americans each year. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 28.9 million people had an alcohol use disorder in 2023.[1]
If you are in recovery from alcoholism, you might be worried that you will miss out on drinking. For example, you might be worried about sitting there while your friends enjoy a beer. This might tempt you to consume non-alcoholic beers.
Non-alcoholic beer has been rising in popularity in the past few years. Many people claim that it is a great alternative for people who enjoy having a beer but cannot consume alcohol due to health reasons or addiction.
With that being said, some non-alcoholic beers still contain small amounts of alcohol. For example, O’Doul’s contains 0.4% alcohol by volume (ABV). Additionally, drinking something resembling a beer could cause you to begin craving the real thing.
For these reasons, you should not drink ODouls in recovery. In most cases, the risks greatly outweigh the benefits.
In this article, you will learn:
- What is O’Douls and non-alcoholic beer?
- Can recovering alcoholics drink O’Doul’s?
- What are the risks of drinking non-alcoholic beverages like O’Doul’s
What is O’Doul’s?
O’Doul’s is a brand of alcohol-free beer sold by Anheuser Busch. You might also hear it referred to as non-alcoholic beer or NA beer. Unlike regular beer, O’Doul’s claims to not contain any alcohol.
While O’Doul’s will not get you drunk, you will be consuming small amounts of alcohol when drinking it. To be considered an NA beer, companies must bottle a beverage that contains less than 0.5 alcohol by volume (ABV). O’doul’s contains 0.4 ABV, just under the legal limit for alcohol-free beers.
To reach the legal limit of blood alcohol content, you would have to consume about 20 alcohol-free beers containing 0.5 ABV. There is little risk that drinking an O’Doul’s will result in intoxication.
Can Alcoholics Drink O’Doul’s?
O’Doul’s is marketed towards people who cannot drink alcohol. As a result, many alcoholics believe it is perfectly fine to drink non-alcoholic beer. While there are no written rules against drinking NA beer, you should use caution before choosing to consume it.
You might want to have an alcohol-free beer in social situations, like hanging out with friends at a barbeque or restaurant. If alcohol was never your main drug of choice, you might be okay to drink a couple of NA beers. However, those who struggled with alcohol in the past could be triggered by the taste of the beer, causing them to experience cravings for the real thing.
Risks of Drinking O’Doul’s When You’re Sober
While the choice of whether to drink O’Doul’s is yours to make, you should be aware of the risks first. If you can successfully drink NA beers without craving alcohol, you have nothing to worry about. That said, it can be difficult to determine whether O’Doul’s will trigger cravings before you try it.
Before drinking a non-alcoholic beer, consider the following risks:
Placebo Effect
People in recovery have to be extremely careful when drinking NA beer. While the beverage will not actually get you drunk, you could experience a placebo effect. For example, the taste of beer could cause psychological changes that make your brain believe you are drinking.
Once you experience the sensations and emotions caused by the placebo effect, you could be dealing with extreme cravings for alcohol. Unfortunately, this could lead to a relapse.
Triggering Cravings
Non-alcoholic beer tastes very similar to real beer, which is part of the appeal. However, drinking something that tastes like the substance you were addicted to could cause intense cravings. While you intended to simply relax with a non-alcoholic beer, you could end up relapsing and drinking the real thing.
Justifying and Rationalizing
If you manage to drink NA beer consistently, you might find yourself justifying and rationalizing all of the reasons you can switch to regular beer. This is how the disease of alcoholism works. You might find yourself believing that because you can drink an NA beer, you are now ready to handle alcoholic beverages.
Unfortunately, this will only lead to relapse down the line. If you begin having thoughts like these, you should seek extra help from your support group, sponsor, or therapist. Using your recovery maintenance techniques and reaching out for support will prevent you from experiencing a relapse.
Find Help for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Recovery from alcoholism is never easy, especially if you are on your own. Having support from friends, family, and professionals is one of the most important aspects of recovery. That said, you should seek help from a professional alcohol rehab center if you are struggling with alcoholism.
At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer evidence-based services to ensure our clients have the best shot at recovery possible. You will have access to services like medical detox, behavioral therapy, group counseling, relapse prevention planning, and more. We also use compassionate techniques and trauma-informed care to ensure you feel comfortable enough to open up about your past.
If you are interested in recovering from an alcohol use disorder, contact the Mandala Healing Center today. We can help you overcome your alcoholism and regain control over your life.
References:
- The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics