I had one yesterday. Long story short, it's a friend at work's leaving drinks at a pub. I really wanted to go to this one to see this guy off: he really has been a good friend and colleague.
I think that it ticked all the boxes in what the Big Book says about us going to drinking situations. So I went.
I had a tonic water and lime, hung around for a bit, said by goodbyes and got home sober. This was in spite of at least one guy, well meaning, no doubt, insisting that I really should have just one beer. I declined and insisted back on the tonic water. No excuses, no explanations on my part, just I want a tonic water, thanks.
It's the first time that I had been to leaving drinks in a long time (the last time was when I was very early into the Fellowship and terrified I would get drunk, so I only went for about two minutes and then left). I didn't even think about taking the "just one beer".
That's awesome. It feels good to navigate situations like that when we know we are there for the right reasons and we know when to leave for the right reasons!
After all ... the book tells Us if We are in fit spiritual condition and have reason to be there, then by all means, go . We meet these conditions sometimes every day, and if we cant, then there is something wrong and we still have an alcoholic mind.
Living sober is a great way to live, thanks be to God and AA !!
That sound like an intro to a "How to" book for the fellowship. Reminds me of my struggle to even order the tonic with a twist. What wanted to come out of my mouth for the longest time was Tanguerey on the rocks with an olive and an onion...Martini with a salad. I had to send the waitress back 3 times before I could say what I needed. My spouse was sooo amused while not ordering for me. Bless her non-enabling heart. Keep coming back Steve.
It's a great feeling when you come away from something like that sober ain't it? I am also miffed when someone says, 'Well, surely you can just have a non-alcoholic beer or wine?' I have absolutely NO IDEA where the fun is in drinking that stuff, besides, I learnt long ago that non-alcoholic beers are for non-alcoholics.
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Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
Awesome Steve! The only possible point of danger would be our alcoholic mind saying "Success! Now I can go back to hanging out in the pub again regularly!" It is good that if we keep our program at the forefront we can go most any place as long as the motives are clear to us and appropriate as you stated.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Thanks all for their great feedback. What I know now is that it is ALL down to my HP and working through this program. Certainly I have no mental defence against that beer that my well meaning colleague really wanted me to have. Not before, not then, not now and not tomorrow.
But yep, pinkchip is right on the money. I can't rest on my laurels and let this tell me that I can hang out in pubs again regularly and just drink tonic water. I know my disease well enought to know that sooner or later, pubs would replace meetings, the programe, that "I'd be better" and "wouldn't need the Fellowship anymore." Oh yeah.
But the BB is a lifesaver in that respect, giving us as it does a means of assessing our motivations and state of mind when thinking about going to a drinking situation.
