I'm going to the pub .......

Fingers Mcginty

Off the sauce 3 weeks and i think it's that time. :eek:
I've been putting off going out to the public house but I can't avoid it tonight. Meeting up with some folks but here is my predicament ....what to drink?????
I'm not really into fizzy drinks at all and i'm going to be there a few hours.
What about a few unleaded erdingers?
Would that be ok????? What do yiz reckon?

The flying mouse

I rekon you shouldn't go to the pub...

Fingers Mcginty

The flying mouse wrote: »

I rekon you shouldn't go to the pub...

Had 2 non alco erdingers. Happy to have gotten that out of the system.
Won't be making a habit of it though.

bikubesong

Congrats Fingers. I had to attend a drinks thing on Saturday night too, I was sick of CocaCola by the end of it but it felt like an achievement to be out socialising and engaging with people - while staying sober.

Same as yourself, I'll still proceed with caution though!

worded

I heard there are new non Alco beers that don't taste like soap after one ...

Clampdown

The NA beer never worked for me. Even the Erdinger which is one of the nicest tasting ones doesn't taste as nice as alcoholic beer. My friend drank them as well and said they gave her a hangover! Plus i feel they draw even more attention to being a non drinker, which can be awkward if it's a place you used to regularly get soused in.

I usually drink lucozade or water. The size of coke in pubs here is ridiculous for the price, it's because it's there to make profit as a mixer for alcohol. In the US they have all the soft drinks in a 'gun' they will squirt you out a full pint for a dollar or so.

Juices are a good choice too, healthier and a bit more in them than soft drinks. My ex used to drink pineapple juice when we went out and didn't drink.

worded

The non alcohol beers are disgusting after one

I can't handle all the sugar of soft drinks. Two or three sugars sh1t drinks and I feel ill

Alcohol - I find if I'm drinking Guinness mid strength is the way to go. I hear bunkers have an option now as well

The flying mouse

For me non alcohol beers never did it ,I never drank alcohol for the taste anyway it was always for the great buzz it gave me, non alcohol beers never or was expected to give me that buzz, Also with me one was never enough and **** if I am put myself through the (in my mind) torture of just having the two or three, So I never saw the point.

Just about me again :-) after years of trying to stop and cut down I found the only way was to stay away from my social circles at the start, I missed out on birthdays, weddings and christenings when I first stopped, To fill the void I got interested in other hobbies etc. etc. ,I did that for the first four/five months.

I am now in bars/restaurants about 5
days/nights a week as where I work its tourist area, don't find it a problem at all now, But I do understand we are all different and this is just me. well done fingers keep it going and keep posting, your helping yourself as well as helping others including me.

Bonniedog

I've tried the Erdinger and found it okay. Someone mentioned getting a hangover. I wouldn't say that is unusual as hangover is from the ingredients rather than the alcohol. AFAIK!

Anyway, I hate coffee and sugary minerals so I find it best alternative, on rare occasions I have ventured out. Had a few after the AI final and I know it sounds stupid but it makes you feel as though you are not some odd ball, and it avoids all the hassle to people pestering you about why you don't have a drink in front of you.


On other note, did anyone see Louis Theroux programme last night? It was very sad, and didn't attempt to make out that everyone had a happy outcome. The Joe character who kept checking out of A & E was particularly hard to watch as I was once that bad. Promised myself I would never reach such depths of despair and horror again.

Fingers Mcginty

For me here in this country the unleaded stuff is the way to go. I know we're all different but the persistence of some people when they see you with a coke in your hand gets a bit much. I was never into soft drinks anyway and see the non alcoholic stuff a better option. I think it tastes fine.
It's certainly an eye opener observing drunk people. I found it comical but had no problem joininG in on the craic.
I felt cheated though the next morning as I still had a headache. Not a hangover just a mild pain. I heard someone say before its to do with the yeast. No horrors though and Sunday wasn't a write of like it usually is.

Bonniedog

Erdinger tastes a lot better than the swill sold by the main breweries. I had two bottles after AI final replay and they lasted over three hours. Drinking minerals is not only vile, but is expensive and as you say attracts the attention of all sorts of clowns who knew you from your drinking days.

I think it is the yeast that causes the headaches. Although I never had headaches even when I was drinking for some reason.

Anyway, don't intend to be in pub any time soon again so all academic really.

The flying mouse

And up the Dubs bonnie :-)

Bonniedog

The flying mouse wrote: »

And up the Dubs bonnie :-)

They have been my downfall on more than one occasion

nozzferrahhtoo

I was at a wedding in Ireland in August after going "non drinker" in july. My choice of "What should I drink" was "nothing" in the end. At dinner the win went around and I asked for a glass just to have something in front of me, or in my hand, to avoid people doing the whole "Have you no drink, what can I get you, you need a drink" thing. But I drank none of it. At the one point I actually got thirsty, I went up for a water.

I guess it is hard in pubs or weddings to get out of the narrative of "I have to drink SOMETHING" but do you really? Are you drinking because you are thirsty or just for the sake of it?

Mid-strength Guinness is likely a great option for some people though. Not one I will be taking myself however. I am one of those people who does not need alcohol until I actually have some, then something goes off inside me. So even Mid-strength Guinness is a no go for me. After 2 of those, I know where I will end up

guile4582

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

Had 2 non alco erdingers. Happy to have gotten that out of the system.
Won't be making a habit of it though.

charged the same price as a pint no doubt. its a joke. there is no excise duty owed on NA beer

Bonniedog

guile4582 wrote: »

charged the same price as a pint no doubt. its a joke. there is no excise duty owed on NA beer

It actually tastes better than any draught and most bottled lagers and I have found it a useful substitute as it helps you to blend in with background!

Price of it can be ridiculous given the excise situation. Have seen it range between 4 euro and 7 in Dublin city centre!

guile4582

Bonniedog wrote: »

It actually tastes better than any draught and most bottled lagers and I have found it a useful substitute as it helps you to blend in with background!

Price of it can be ridiculous given the excise situation. Have seen it range between 4 euro and 7 in Dublin city centre!

off the booze a while. been in the pub alot this xmas. it is basically priced the same as a pint of lager. I have written to the dept of health and the vitners on the issue. how will we ever change attitudes. and its not just for non drinkers, what about people being responsible and maybe subbing it in between alcholic drinks.

its absurd

Bonniedog

guile4582 wrote: »

off the booze a while. been in the pub alot this xmas. it is basically priced the same as a pint of lager. I have written to the dept of health and the vitners on the issue. how will we ever change attitudes. and its not just for non drinkers, what about people being responsible and maybe subbing it in between alcholic drinks.

its absurd

That's a good idea. Might drop an email to same people myself, plus revenue.

I don't go to pubs much now but a night out can be almost as expensive drinking non alcohol and minerals and coffee as drinking booze!


They charge up to 5/6 times what they are buying stuff wholesale.

guile4582

No reply from dept of health but got this from Vitners

I refer to your earlier mail regarding the above and wish you are yours also a very Happy New Year

Firstly can I say that we do not represent Pubs or Publicans in Dublin. There is a separate organisation – The Licenced Vintners Association – looking after their interests

Secondly I would have to say that even if we did we cannot try to influence or comment on pricing structures in pubs. It is deemed illegal, under Competition Law, for a Trade Association like ours to do so with very heavy consequences for us if we were to break that particular law. It may seem strange but that is the position. It is up to each Publican in his or her establishment to determine prices

For that reason we certainly won’t be trying to influence what members do regarding pricing of any products, alcoholic or otherwise.

Unfortunately for the above reasons we are not in a position to try to address the concerns you have raised

Kind regards

Padraig Cribben

Padraig Cribben
Chief Executive
Vintners' Federation of Ireland

Bonniedog

guile4582 wrote: »

No reply from dept of health but got this from Vitners

I refer to your earlier mail regarding the above and wish you are yours also a very Happy New Year

Firstly can I say that we do not represent Pubs or Publicans in Dublin. There is a separate organisation – The Licenced Vintners Association – looking after their interests

Secondly I would have to say that even if we did we cannot try to influence or comment on pricing structures in pubs. It is deemed illegal, under Competition Law, for a Trade Association like ours to do so with very heavy consequences for us if we were to break that particular law. It may seem strange but that is the position. It is up to each Publican in his or her establishment to determine prices

For that reason we certainly won’t be trying to influence what members do regarding pricing of any products, alcoholic or otherwise.

Unfortunately for the above reasons we are not in a position to try to address the concerns you have raised

Kind regards

Padraig Cribben

Padraig Cribben
Chief Executive
Vintners' Federation of Ireland

Totally disingenuous reply.

My uncle was a publican and it is well known that they decide together on pricing and wages.


I know for a fact that Erdinger alcohol free can be bought for at least 40% less wholesale than bottled alcoholic lagers. On that basis it should be sold for at most 4.50 for a 500ml bottle in pubs.