Can beer and sobriety go together? Maybe, if non-alcoholic beer is safe for you to drink. For some people, abstinence means no beer at all, including non-alcoholic beer, but if you are in recovery for other substances or behaviors, you may be able to drink non-alcoholic beer. Keep in mind that with the exception of Bitburger Drive, all non-alcoholic beers contain some measurable amount of alcohol. While alcohol by volume (ABV) percentages are very low, low is not the same as none. To determine what’s best for you and your recovery, discuss any non-alcoholic beer choices with your sponsor and your treatment professionals. Keep in Mind
- To be considered non-alcoholic beer, the ABV must be 0.5% or lower. All of the beers listed below are in this category.
- Best doesn’t matter if you can’t find it in your local supermarket. Some of the more highly rated non-alcoholic beers may also be more obscure and harder to find, or only available regionally.
- No non-alcoholic beer will fool you. None of them taste much like the real thing. If you want to drink beer, talk with your sponsor and your treatment team about your cravings. Drinking non-alcoholic beer could put you at risk for relapse.
- Remember, your own tastes and preferences are all that matter if you are cleared to drink non-alcoholic beer. The reviewers’ descriptions may be helpful, but ultimately your own taste buds are all you need.
The Non-Alcoholic Beers
- Kaliber, made by Guinness, is rated highly by a number of taste-testers. Not a stout, but according to some tasters, it does remind them of Guinness.
- O’Doul’s (amber and premium), made by Budweiser, gets mixed reviews. Some rated the premium very highly, while others found it unpalatable.
- Pauli Girl N.A. is described as sweet with a honey scent. It is widely available, and neither highly rated nor panned.
- Buckler, made by Heineken, received higher ratings and was described as mellow.
- Clausthaler, a German import, received very high ratings from one group of reviewers and very low ratings from another. No offensive flavors noted, but the criticism was that it was nearly tasteless.
For people who are not in recovery, non-alcoholic beer can be a great thirst-quencher. Some people enjoy the flavor, and it may be a better choice than sweetened beverages. If you are in recovery from alcohol addiction and trying to find delicious and safe beverages, consider seltzers, herbal iced teas, and tea-juice-lemonade blends. There are lots of ways to stay hydrated without risking your recovery. https://gizmodo.com/the-best-non-alcoholic-beer-1305907243 https://www.beereur.com/top-5-beer-list/what-are-the-top-5-best-non-alcoholic-beers/ https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/non-alcoholic-beer-taste-test
