Any Other Alcoholic Celiacs Out There?

[Shotzy1313]

Im just kidding about being an alcoholic but I cant seem to stop myself from going out and drinking light beer. Almost all social events serve light beer on draft and its so hard to avoid when I go out. I understand there is red bridge but when I go out, that is not available. Like when you go to an event or out in general you cant bring it with you to a lot of places. It is really hard to transition your life from going out with friends and family and having fun drinking to completely switching and not being able to do that anymore. I finally accepted the fact I cant eat gluten but not being able to drink with all my friends seems depressing and impossible.

Keep in mind im newly diagnosed and not gluten free yet but lets say in the future; I am gluten free and I go out and drink for one night. Depending on how gluten affects you would you be able to recover and get back to normal fairly quickly or does that take awhile?

[Guest Happynwgal2]

  Shotzy1313 said:

Im just kidding about being an alcoholic but I cant seem to stop myself from going out and drinking light beer. Almost all social events serve light beer on draft and its so hard to avoid when I go out. I understand there is red bridge but when I go out, that is not available. Like when you go to an event or out in general you cant bring it with you to a lot of places. It is really hard to transition your life from going out with friends and family and having fun drinking to completely switching and not being able to do that anymore. I finally accepted the fact I cant eat gluten but not being able to drink with all my friends seems depressing and impossible.

Keep in mind im newly diagnosed and not gluten free yet but lets say in the future; I am gluten free and I go out and drink for one night. Depending on how gluten affects you would you be able to recover and get back to normal fairly quickly or does that take awhile?

Just a suggestion that you may already have thought of: why not make calls to the places you like to go, explain to them that you cannot have beer with gluten, and ask how they can accommodate you. I never drink alcohol of any kind, so I don't have this problem. However, what I have found at almost every restaurant that I have eaten at since going gluten free almost a year ago, is that they are more than happy to tell you what's in the food they serve, and even make a special meal for you. I even go as far as bringing in my own soy sauce and snacks to make sure I do not get glutened. And I have always been met with kindness and understanding.

Most businesses want your business - I would not be surprised if they would let you bring non-gluten beer with you, if you buy something else from them that is safe for you to eat and/or drink. Besides, if all your friends buy the regular beer, they shouldn't loose that much by you bringing in your own non-gluten beer...

Anyway, just my ten cents worth... Good luck!

[happygirl]

Taken from a highly respected Celiac center: Open Original Shared Link

Q: Is it ok if I ingest some gluten if I do not experience any symptoms?

No. The majority of patients with celiac disease experience no symptoms when they ingest gluten, either intentionally or unintentionally. This led to the concept that patients, especially children may grow out of the disease. In addition, patients also consider that it is doing no harm to them. However the ingestion of even small amounts of gluten results in damage to the small intestine--regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms--and puts the patient at risk for resulting complications including malignancies and osteoporosis.

and: Open Original Shared Link

Prompt diagnosis and treatment with a lifelong gluten-free diet mitigates and even reverses the gastrointestinal and systemic effects of celiac disease, and reduces the risks of subsequent development of malignancy.

[VioletBlue]

Regular beer, as someone pointed out, will hurt a Celiac in the long run whether there are immediate effects or not. Wine is an option as is mead or sorghum beer if you can find it. Hard liquor or mixed drinks are also an option. Wine coolers are not always a good choice because they can contain gluten.

As long as you don't have additional allergies, there are other alternatives besides beer. I personally never drink in public anyway, so I've always been fine at events and get togethers with soda water or diet coke. The whole point usually of getting together with friends is to be with friends, so let that be the focus instead of what you can or cannot drink.

Violet

[loco-ladi]

If there is one "establishment" you frequent regularly you could talk to the owner/manager and you may be surprised to find they will stock gluten-free beer for you, this wont help when you visit other places but your "main" place will normally accomidate you, you could also call ahead if you can they generally get deliveries multiple times each week and could stock a small amount for when you plan to be there.

[JNBunnie1]

There's also the fact that you are most likely currently addicted, not to alcohol, but to gluten. I would suggest refraining from that kind of social event for at least two weeks after going gluten free, and then using one of the suggestions made here to avoid the light beer. I know you probably hear this all the time, but you also don't actually HAVE to drink alcohol to have a good time.

[CarlaB]

Why don't you carry a flask of rum to these events? Or you can order a mixed drink instead of a beer in a restaurant/bar if they don't have a gluten-free beer available.

[aikiducky]

Well, you said you're not gluten free yet. You might find, once you are, that the consequences of one beer won't be worth it.

I get sick for three weeks from less gluten that that...

Guess if I'm ever tempted?

Pauliina

[jkmunchkin]

Ummmm why not drink something other than beer? When I go out I either drink wine (which doesn't sound like your thing), or vodka (preferably Ketel One) with Sprite / 7 Up & Lemon. I totally understand wanting to go out and drink with your friends while hanging out but there are other alcoholic beverages besides beer.

[Renth]

I'm lucky because my friends and I have adopted a local pub that has woodchuck cider and Strongbow so I can drink along side everyone else and feel like I am apart of things look into what hard ciders the places you go to has you might be suprised!

[tallfran]

Redbridge is made and distributed by the same folks that do Budweiser. I'm sure that if you spoke to the manager of the places you usually go, they would be happy to stock it for you. I buy mine at the Walmart Supercenter, so it's not like it's hard to find!

I am certainly no beer expert, but I LIKE the Redbridge, and really can't tell the difference.

Fran

[Guest j_mommy]

You may not have symptoms right away but you WILL be doing damage to your insides!

I drink capt and coke when I go out. I found that New Ghrist(sp?) is better than redbridge but that is just personal choice!

Good luck!

PS I agree with teh other posters...talk to the bars you go to and ask them to stock a gluten-free beer...most will comply!

[Shotzy1313]

Is it unmanly for a guy to walk around with a mixed drink at a bar?

[DingoGirl]

  Shotzy1313 said:

Is it unmanly for a guy to walk around with a mixed drink at a bar?

Not if you do James Bond type drinks.....

[Centa]

  Shotzy1313 said:

Is it unmanly for a guy to walk around with a mixed drink at a bar?

Not unless it's pink...

No, Shotzy I don't think mixed drinks are girly...and what about those manly libations, scotch and whisky? I went out for a drink after work with a couple male colleagues a few nights ago and one ordered a Bombay Gin martini straight up. ... I don't want to turn you into a lush here, but there's a whole world of scotches out there, and it's a real guy thing often to compare single malts.

Here, from our very own site, a list

[VioletBlue]

To be honest, from my perspective, I'd be way more interested in a man who has a mixed drink or even wine in his hand than a beer. There's a certain level of sophistication involved there. Beer says schmoo and mixed drink says interesting and complicated. And I've never been the schmoo attracted type.

But that may just be me

  Shotzy1313 said:

Is it unmanly for a guy to walk around with a mixed drink at a bar?

[DingoGirl]

  VioletBlue said:

To be honest, from my perspective, I'd be way more interested in a man who has a mixed drink or even wine in his hand than a beer. There's a certain level of sophistication involved there. Beer says schmoo and mixed drink says interesting and complicated. And I've never been the schmoo attracted type.

I totally agree!! Beer says COLLEGE schmoo (unless a man is drinking some elusive and chic "micro brew" out of a bottle, but who really scrutinizes that)....

Wine is okay too, but it should be red, or even white, but NEVER pink.

But to be really honest, I don't care what a man is drinking in a bar, as long as he is not obviously drunk. A drunken man (or woman) in public is just not attractive, no matter the concoction.