I don't know about the malt drinks, but the caffeinated beverages is a personal choice. I do enjoy drinking an energy drink every so often, but then again i've seen people drink way to many, and even steal from other members. (talk about using behaviour).....I just always look at my moderation..... I have also seen people drink way to many cups of coffee in a day, which is the same thing as an energy drink..... so yes they can be replacements and caffeine is a drug, though it doesn't warrant a white key tag.... in my opinion, and if it did you'd have to count nicotine too.... people smoke way to much......
ok so it comes down to personal health and choice...... I just keep my life in moderations....
and again that was just one addicts opinion...
Andrea
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people who mind don't matter, and people who matter don't mind- Dr. Seuss
They are selling these things even in remote places of pilgrimage like Tiru in South India... The malt ones are bein marketed as totally zero percent alcohol and as a health drink...
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
It just depends. Most people in NA don't view caffeine as a mind/mood altering drug. It doesn't get me high. So there are lots of people (including me) who consider themselves clean but who still drink coffee, cola, etc. However, excessive caffeine drinking can become a problem. When I drink too much coffee I became anxious, edgy, etc. Too much caffeine can also cause high blood pressure and heart problems. As you know, taking things to extremes is part of what it means to be an addict. I have seen people in NA who are a bit extreme when it comes to caffeine use, which can be a problem. So, like was said earlier, moderation seems to be the key.
I still smoke cigarettes, in fact, a lot of them, and it's getting to a point where I've started seeing it as a problem, health-wise, as well as a mental dependence!
Like Avid shared above, I have also read in our own NA literature somewhere where it says that it's upto each individual in Narcotics Anonymous to identify nicotine/tobacco use or excessive coffee as a problem for them and deal with it accordingly, maybe it's the NAWS Bulletin focusing on this issue in particular...
I know a friend who quit smoking cigarettes when he stopped using some 11 years back. For him, smoking cigarettes started with using, as part of his using, and the only way he could stop using was to stop all things associated with using. He is still smoke-free!
For me, I have always smoked, before I started using, during my using, and in recovery up until now. And yes, I do get into a coffee-binge every now and then... and I have to have at least 8-10 cups of Tea in a day everyday to feel alright...
Now lately, there is this tastlessness, dry throat, mild congestion in the chest, bronchial issues when I wake up in the mornings, a little coughing, and I'm almost into the 40s now... I have started seeing it as a problem...
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"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
I do take red bulls on occasions but I do not get a buzz out of it, taking 2-3 coffees in the evening does the trick for me lol...
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"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
caffiene junky here, none of those drinks for me I dont like them. I just do coffee and I dont let myself get all crazy .
My sponsor gets sprung on coffee he ended up in the hospital thought he was having a heart attach and the Dr told him he was drinking way way to much, that much is obvious he's sprung all over the place and you cant shut him up LOL.
Googled the Bavria drink and here is what comes up,,,
"Bavaria Premium Malt non-alcoholic beer - 100% of the taste, 0% of the alcohol.
Most alcohol-free beers are brewed as normal alcoholic beers, with the alcohol removed at the last stage. It's impossible to remove all of the alcohol, so such beers tend to have up to 0.5% alcohol remaining. Bavaria is brewed with no alcohol at all and is a genuine 0% beer."..
This is also spposed to be good for ridding kidney stones, stomach irritations and the like....
I personally dont do all this,,, just wondering why its done at NA events....this consumption of red bull, bavaria, ginger ale, apple juices and the sort..
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
