Sober Monitor
It’s been a couple years, but I still feel odd telling people that I don’t drink anymore. It’s probably because they immediately start to speculate why I stopped drinking. I can see and hear the mental gears grinding as they try to figure it out. Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good micro-brew. I miss you Fresh Coast IPA. And don’t get me started on bourbon. Buffalo Trace makes everything better. So why stop cold turkey?
The truth is pretty simple. I had this little heart thing. I suppose you could call it an episode. Technically it’s A-Fib. Not a heart attack thankfully, but something serious enough to get me in front of a cardiologist. I was prescribed a cocktail of medications to help get my heart back into rhythm and keep it there. And of course we talked about lifestyle changes - more exercise, a healthier diet, limiting caffeine, and perhaps giving up alcohol entirely. What now? That was a lot coming at me at once. But I did it. All of it. Your heart getting out of rhythm is sobering already. So, making the decision to quit alcohol entirely was super easy for me. Caffeine on the other hand is a daily struggle.
One thing that helped me quit drinking is the fact that I’m a lightweight to begin with. Two beers in any given night was usually my limit. Three and I’d be singing Karaoke and hugging everyone. I basically enjoyed a few beers and a Brandy Old Fashioned in total every week. Not a major shift in my lifestyle to stop entirely.
But here’s the deal. I’m a very social guy. I like going out with friends and family. Entertaining clients. Celebrating the holidays. It’s part of who I am. There are so many opportunities to raise a glass, especially in a state like Wisconsin. I didn’t want to avoid social situations. However, I had trouble figuring out what to drink when I was out in public. There’s only so much sparkling water one person can consume. And I don’t drink sodas (they can be worse for you than alcohol). What else is there?Well, let me tell you, there are some wonderful NA beer and spirit options on the market that allow me to stay social with the added benefit of being the designated driver for my group.
If you are considering a timeout from alcohol for any reason, here are some brands to check out:
Athletic Brewing Company (Milford, CT and San Diego, CA) -- athleticbrewing.com
Bravus Brewing Company (Anaheim, CA) -- bravus.com
Go Brewing (Naperville, IL) – gobrewing.com
Free Spirits (Mill Valley, CA) – drinkfreespirits.com
Spiritless (Austin, TX and Louisville, KY) – spiritless.com
Side note: Untitled Art (Madison, WI) and Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee, WI) may be brewing some of the best NAs on the market.If you can find ‘em, buy ‘em.
But here’s one other thing. We need resorts, cruise lines, Disney World, etc. to get on board and start stocking up on some of these spectacular NA options. Having Heineken 0 as the only NA option is criminal.Please, I beg of you, start offering Athletic or at the very least Guiness 0 which is actually pretty darn delicious.
The NA beer and craft cocktail market is growing. Rapidly. Go into a Total Wine and look at their extensive selection of NA Beer and Spirits. It’s staggering. It’s the fastest growing segment in the beverage industry. So maybe I chose the right time in life to go dry. I’m having fun, sleeping well, and feeling great. To tell the truth, I’m sober and loving it!
