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Should you serve beverages with alcohol if you have a recovering alcoholic as a guest?

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winespy
winespy
Marked as Best! November 28, 2009 10:06 AM
There seem to be valid arguments on both sides. Here's how I approach it. Alcoholism is a serious addiction. Recovery from alcoholism (or any addiction) is a process, one that lasts a lifetime. Therefore it has a lifecycle. If your guest is in the early days of recover or has recently fallen off the wagon re-started recovery, I would play it safe. I would not have alcohol but I wouldn't serve just water and soft drinks either. I'd make sure that I had some fruit juices, lemonade, etc.on hand so that the libations would be delicious, energizing, and varied.

However, if the person had been in recovery for a long time and was accustomed to being around alcohol as in Answers # 1 and 2 above I would, of course, serve alcohol...but in addition I would serve a variety of non-alcoholic refreshers.

I applaud and wish the best for everyone in recovery. And I would remind everyone else to always have a designated driver to make sure that everyone arrives home safely. Conundrum wines as well as everyone else in the wine and spirits industry supports RESPONSIBLE DRINKING.

Happy Holiday Season!

Alex
Certified Sommelier, Guild of Sommeliers/Court of Master Sommeliers
Wine & Spirit Education Trust Advanced Certified
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Professional Experience and Training
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unwirklich
unwirklich
November 25, 2009 09:08 PM
My mother is actually a recovered alcoholic of 20 years. She once told me people who tried to go out of there way to keep alcohol away from her insulted her more than having to be around the alcohol. As if they thought she didn't have it in her. Recovering alcoholics are people who let alcohol change their lives. Generally they are people who spent a long time oblivious to the fact that people were treating them differently because they knew they were an alcoholic and then suddenly realize how much their problem is affecting their lives and try to change. These people just want to get back being to the people they want to be. Singling them out by not serving alcohol is not going to help that.

So long answer short, I would serve alcohol. Would I rub it in a recovering alcoholics face or offer them drinks? No, but alcohol is everywhere and they understand that more than anyone.
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kidd47
kidd47
November 25, 2009 09:33 PM
My husband is a recovering alcoholic. He has been sober for almost 3 years now. We are avid drag racers and there is alcohol all over at the racetracks. His family also drinks at holiday gatherings. He was uncomfortable at first because everyone tried to hide it from him and it made him feel like it was ruining everyone elses holiday because he was there and he was very awkward. He met me and I don't drink so that helped and now we go anywhere and it does not bother him. His family has gone back to their normal routine and that has made him feel much better and much less like an outcast because of that. He just wants the world to go on like it always has, just with him not drinking in it.
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Worked as a drug and alcohol counselor
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thebandit
thebandit
November 26, 2009 04:31 AM
Honestly? I wouldn't. Yes, alcohol is everywhere, and a recovering alcoholic will have to contend with that for the rest of his/her life. But that doesn't mean you can't make it a bit easier and/or less tempting. It's one little thing, after all, that you can make a bit easier. And there's plenty of time to drink beyond one event.
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