Mocktails with Angie and Dave

I don't like that shit. Kevin, do you agree? Have you had a sip of it? Yeah, sure. Are you ever done a wrong guy even though, are you? But doesn't it kind of... Yes. That's why I was like, oh. It kind of did. It does. That's the only one. It's kind of scary. Yeah. Like, am I smelling... That's why I was trying to explain to you guys the smell of when you're drinking it. I could smell the wrong. It's kind of scary. You should have said that. All right, so... He did. I captured it. I captured this now. This is a good B-roll at the end. I can't drink anymore. I'm done. I'm tapping out. I'm just thirsty. I'm drinking the Coke, actually. Hey, guys. Welcome to season two. Today, we are going to launch a new segment called Mocktails with Angie and Dave. And we're going to start taste testing some of the non-alcoholic beverages that are available. Today, we're actually going to spend some time on that topic as far as, you know, is non-alcoholic beverages, are they allowed when you're sober? What's the stance on that? How do people feel? We'll talk through both sides of that. And then, as far as season two goes, we're going to start bringing a lot of new stuff to you guys. We're going to start... We want to be more engaged with you guys. We would love it if you would start participating, sending questions. I'll ask for if you guys have any sobriety dates that you want to celebrate, things like that. Dave, anything you would want to add to what we're doing for season two? No, I just think we're going to try to make it a little more livelier, but also recognize the fact that it is a very serious topic, right? We'll try to have a little fun with it. And yeah, hopefully get you guys engaged and have a little back and forth. We're going to answer some questions that we're not going to know are coming. And, you know, hopefully it'll be fun. So, with that, welcome to Virgins Don't Take Pregnancy Tests, the podcast with Angie and Dave. Welcome to Virgins Don't Take Pregnancy Tests, where real conversations meet hard truths with Angie and Dave. Okay, so we said we were going to have some mocktails tonight, and we're going to get into the debate of whether or not you can or can't, should or shouldn't have non-alcoholic drinks if you are trying to abstain from alcohol or you're going through recovery. Angie and I have differing opinions on this. I know she is against having non-alcoholic beverages while you're going through recovery. I am on the other side. I think it's okay. And she takes the stance because she went through AA, and it's a big no-no in AA, non-alcoholic beverages. So, we're just going to kind of go back and forth. So, you're up. All right. So, my experience, and there isn't a, like, formal stance or rule for those that haven't gone to an AA program. There's not, like, a stance on it, like, you're not allowed to do it. I would just say it's one of those things, and I'll talk about why, because I have five reasons why I think it's a dangerous- Oh, damn. You got bullets in the chamber. It's a dangerous, slippery slope for some people, for some people. Um, so, I have, um, been sober over 10 years now. I have had non-alcoholic beverages, uh, through the course of my sobriety. Not very many. Um, I'd say most of the ones that I had were at work events, and I would usually end up getting a Heineken Zero with, like, my CEO also didn't drink. So, I did that, but other than that, um, the only other thing I've done is, like, if I'm out to, like, celebrate a birthday or big event, I might get one of those, like, fancy, you know, fun juice mocktail drinks that they make, um, just to kind of, like, make it celebratory. But I think, like, there is some legitimate reasons why you need to be kind of careful. Um, I think the biggest one is you have to remember that the ritual of drinking included things other than just the alcohol. So, like, the whole ritual behind your drinking. Did you use a certain glass? Did you open, you know, a bottle at 5 o'clock for happy hour? Like, what is your ritual? And that is a dangerous thing because the ritual is your habit. And so, that's the habit you're trying to break. So, it's almost kind of, like, counterintuitive to what you're doing in sobriety. Um, another reason is the taste can be triggering for people. So, it never has been for me. I know Dave will share his side in a second, but just the taste can be very triggering to people. And again, trying to control their cravings is one of the biggest parts in alcoholism. Um, up until recently, one of the biggest problems with N.A. beverages, um, in the sobriety world is that in the United States, you can have up to a half a percentage of alcohol in a drink and you can still call it N.A. Um, and I think that was a lot of the problem with, um, the earlier non-alcoholic beverages. You'll find, um, nowadays and the ones that we're going to taste today, they are zero proof. So, zero percent alcohol. But some of the, you know, if you look at non-alcoholic beers, some of them will have a half a percent of alcohol in it. And so, from an A.A. perspective and a sobriety perspective, that is just testing fate. There's no reason to put any alcohol in your body. Um, I think the other thing I would say is you're really trying to get away from, like, I've talked about it once, but, like, people, places, and things that is tied to your drinking. And so, a bar, for example, where you would get non-alcoholic beverages, say you were at a happy hour with work people, it allows you to spend more time in the very place that you're trying to remove yourself from. I don't know if that makes sense. But you're putting yourself back in the bar, which is a dangerous place for an alcoholic, period. Um, the last part, I think it is just, in general, can be, and not for everyone, a very slippery slope. And what I mean by that is, if it tastes just like non-alcoholic, or if it tastes just like regular beer, then your brain can start to think, like, what's the difference in me drinking real beer versus non-alcoholic beer if that has alcohol in it? And it's just a very, very slippery slope. So, those are some of the, like, key reasons in the, like, recovery world that people would say it's just not a really good idea to drink any sort of alcohol because it's reinforcing all of that muscle memory habit, all that stuff. So, what say you, Dave? You done? Yes. Jesus. Um, so I'm going to start with a story. Uh, so the other night, uh, Sammy and I took Sammy out to dinner. We went to Los Taltecos or whatever. And, uh, I, so I was saying in the last few episodes ago, I was saying the first thing I do, I look at a menu. I automatically look to see if they have non-alcoholic beers. And, uh, so I was going to have a non-alcoholic beer. So, I looked on the menu and it said Stella Artois Heineken Zero. And I know both of those are 0.0 alcohol. So, I said, uh, do you have Stella Artois, the non-alcoholic? And he goes, no, we don't, I'm sorry. And I said, well, I'll have a Heineken Zero. I said, or, uh, do you have Corona Zeros? And he said, good on him. He said, we do. But just so you know, they're like 0.05%. They're not 100% non-alcoholic. Right. Young kid too. Like, I don't know if they're trained up over there, but so he let me know. I'm actually impressed by that. Yeah. And I was like, oh, thank you for telling me I will have a Heineken Zero. Yeah. Because I know that has 0% alcohol. But most people didn't know. So, that's a thing, like, establishments know that that's a thing. So, they're carrying both, at least, at least there they are. Um, all right. So, that's my Lois Talteco story. Um, so, I think, at least for me, and I know all this stuff. Can we start with how often you drink non-alcoholic beverages? Because you actually use them, like, you do it a lot, right? Um, it depends on the definition of a lot. Um, I, I probably buy a 12-pack of Budweiser Zeros maybe every two weeks or every three weeks. Yeah. And that'll last me. Um, I think over the weekend, I just had two. Mm-hmm. Maybe one and a half. I think I emptied the other, I threw the other one away. Um, it's just, I'd like to get a sip, uh, the taste. And, um, it's not a thing for me. It doesn't, but, yeah, like I was going to say, so, this is just for me. Whenever we're talking about these things, for me, um, I don't have a problem with drinking non-alcoholic beers. Now, what we're going to do tonight, what we're going to have, that has me very curious. Mm-hmm. Because I picture, have we already said what we're going to have yet? No, we can say, do you want me to say it? Okay, so. You said. So, I think we're going to have, uh. Three things tonight. Uh, rum and coke. Gin and tonic. Gin and tonic. And a margarita. And a margarita. All, all pre-made except for the rum and coke. So, I, I, I think for some reason, I'm thinking that those drinks are going to be more alcohol-y. Like taste? Right, like taste more like alcohol. Like, I, I feel like I almost might wince when I, when I do it. So, truthfully, I'm not looking forward to the gin and tonic one at all. I'm looking forward to the gin and tonic one because I was a gin and tonic guy. I don't like rum very much. And so, I got rum for rum and coke. So, so, we'll find out. But I just feel like that's going to be very, like, alcohol-y. Like, just the taste of regular alcohol, not beer. Because for me, again, I drank beer every day for 30 years. I really enjoy the taste of beer. Yeah. And, but I get what you're saying about muscle memory and things like that. Like, I can see how that would be a thing where that would lead to more or wanting to try more or dipping a toe further. And giving you a reason to be in a bar, too. Sure. Well, here's the other thing about that. I would never, I wouldn't say never, but I would never go into a bar and order a non-alcoholic beer. I just wouldn't do it. I wouldn't be in a bar to begin with because I've tried that. Like, at, what's that island restaurant in Ocean City, Fishtails? Fishtails. Mm-hmm. You would get, I would get one there, like, because it's a beach. Yeah, it's like you're sitting down to dinner, though. Yeah, yeah. You're not hanging out at a bar. Yeah, yeah. But it, yeah. But so, at a bar, I wouldn't do it just because, like, I spent most of my days sitting at a bar drinking beer. So, I wouldn't just sit at a bar and drink a non-alcoholic beer, put it that way. Right. I would if we were in that establishment sitting down at a table having dinner. But the muscle memory and stuff like that, I get it. So, in my case, I was so severely out of control and sick and health reasons and job-wise and in such a dark, dark place. I would never even think about tempting going even close back to that. And that's why I think, for me, I'm able to limit just having a couple sips of non-alcoholic beer every now and then. Keeping real tight rein on it. Yeah. I've never had the urge to just sit there and pound six Budweiser Zeros. It just doesn't make sense. I mean, truthfully, I never even finished the whole Heineken Zero when I get it. It just doesn't make sense. But it just, I don't know if it's some sort of, like, nostalgia or bring something back. But sitting there watching the Eagles game, Go Birds, I enjoyed having a couple sips of what tasted like beer. Now, again, I agree 100% that it's not for everybody. I think even, surprisingly, there's no stats on it, really, of people who are 100% in recovery. There's no stats on the percentage of people who try it are successful. The only stat I could really find is that 3% of people who are actively trying to abstain from alcohol try non-alcoholic beverages. Really? Only three. I thought that was a very low number. Here's the truth. My first, I'm just going to say, like, first 10 years of sobriety and a couple of those were spent in AA, I never had non-alcoholic drinks. Like, I'm just, Diet Coke is my drink or a seltzer. But I just, I never did. I don't know if it's because I started in AA. And it was, it was really a no-no there. Yeah. And to your point, I know when I, at least when I was in my IOP phase and I was still trying to hide drinking and stuff like that, they were legit, like 100%, you cannot have non-alcoholic beer. Because back then, I think they all had 0.05% or whatever. There weren't these zeros, legit 0%s out there. So, not that I'm ever planning on going back to an IOP, but I would be interested to see what their stance is on that now. Yeah, that would, I actually, that never came up in any of my treatments at the time. I just don't think it was a big enough. That's the first question I asked. What? Can we drink non-alcoholic beer? No, I never, ever asked that. I never even thought of that. So, all right. So, now I want to talk about, you said the word ritual. Mm-hmm. It's a good story. Me and my, fuck it, I'll say their names. Rick and AJ, we were in Okinawa. And we were always the guys, people used to tell us, we were always the guys walking back to the barracks carrying beers. Back then, I think we were drinking Miller Genuine Draft. We would drink so much beer, and I don't even know what brought it on, and this was back in 95. We had said, for some reason, like, I'm right-handed, I could never drink a beer with my right hand. I always had to drink a beer with my left hand. And whatever hand they were, I know Rick's left-handed, he can never drink with his left hand, whatever. For years, I never drank a beer with my right hand, ever. Okay, that's completely bizarro. Even if, no, even if you, if you think about it now, if you ever watch me when I'm out somewhere, I very rarely drink something with my right hand, because I'm so used to, it feels so weird, even when I'm drinking a non-alcoholic beer, to drink it with my right hand. And I do it, because I'm like, fuck it, I'm not in that world anymore. I can do whatever I want. So, but a ritual thing, like, that was a huge ritual. Like, I'm talking about, for like 20 years, we, I didn't drink beer with my right hand. That's crazy. And now it feels weird to drink anything with my right hand. That's crazy. So, I can see how it would be a slippery slope. For me, it's not yet. I don't even know what the warning would be to make it think that it was getting to be an issue. I don't know what that would look like. Well, like, what if we tasted this today, and for some reason, you text me later tonight, and you're like, oh, shit. Yo, that gin and tonic was so good. That was good shit. Okay? Or the rum and coke. I'm not looking forward to it. I'm not either, but I'm just saying. So, the thing I kind of want to just add in here, because I know we're kind of debating back and forth. It's such a serious topic that, like, it is not, like, for everyone to just go out. Like, I feel pretty comfortable and stable in my sobriety right now. I know that I've had non-alcoholic beverages. I'm not necessarily worried about drinking one. But it is definitely, like, some people do have problems with it. And so, I would just say, like, kind of what we say with everything, your sobriety journey is so unique to you, and everyone's is different, that you just need to make a decision that's best for you and your sobriety and your family, and then not worry about what everyone else thinks, eventually. Yeah, and it's, and I think it goes back to the whole thing of, like, being honest. Like, I've said before, like, when I was, I was probably two years in, and the scaredest I ever was, was asking Kathy, when we were at one vacation at a restaurant outside, do you mind if I get a non-alcoholic beer? I was so scared. But I would, if I hadn't done that, I wonder if I would, like, be sneaking non-alcoholic beers, just to not catch any sort of judgment whatsoever. It's interesting that you ask permission for non-alcoholic. I am, I am 51 years old, and I ask permission if I can order a non-alcoholic beverage. Because when you're drinking it, and I saw it in the eyes of my, like, family, I think for a second, it just gives them that, like, old year memory. Oh, shit, yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, and that's what I said when I told that story the first time, just the look in her face. Yeah. She didn't say a word. Because I remember it on my daughter's face. Yeah. Because she thought it was weird I was doing that, because I never did it. Like, oh, shit, what is this starting? And I would be lying if I said that in the back of my head I wasn't worried or thought about it or didn't cross my mind. Like, is this too much, too soon? Should I not? Should I? And I don't know, maybe I gave in or whatever, but I just, I did it, and I had one, and now I have, like, one or two a weekend maybe. Yeah, but for you, it's actually the flip side. It is a tool for your sobriety. Like, it helps you stay sober. Yeah, and I think that's where, is it a coping mechanism or is it leading you down the wrong path? For me, I am content with that. I am good, perfect with that. I don't need to go further with it. I am good to go just where I am right now, having two or three a weekend. I'm good. I don't have any during the week, rarely, rarely. After today, well, I guess maybe it's going to be next week if it's a regular segment, but I couldn't tell you when the next time I would have, like, an on-alcoholic drink. Yeah, so. Like, last night, break birthday, 30th birthday dinner, Coke, Diet Coke, you know? Did he have a beer? No. This is what bugs me about people that aren't alcoholics or drug addicts. I don't know how they do it. He didn't want one. I don't know how they do it. His 30th birthday. I was like, I want one for your 30th birthday. Yeah. Not really, but. Okay, it is time, Dave, for mocktails, and we're going to start today with, I actually got a brand called Ritual Zero Proof. Hint, hint, sponsor. No, we don't have a sponsor yet. We're going to start with gin and tonic. This is a pre-canned one. Ooh, nine carbs. The problem with these is, oh, not the problem with these, but I don't think they have, these are, these are fully zero proof, and it's from the makers of Ritual Gin Alternative. So, anyways. They're fizzy and bright. I know that. Let's go. So, we're going to go with gin and tonic first. Wait, we have to, hey, cheers. Do a second sip. My face. Okay. We're going to rate this. Gin and tonic. I don't think Ritual's going to be our sponsor. Ritual's not going to be our sponsor right now, I can tell you. Would you buy it? Drink, I would not buy it. Why else would you buy it? I'll wash my clothes with it. Okay. That's what I mean. So, you wouldn't buy it. I wouldn't buy it either. Sorry, Ritual. Would you serve it to any guests that you know? Not on purpose. Would you pour it out? I would pour it out. It tastes like soapy Sprite. Maybe if it was, it's cold. There's a hint of something that reminds me of like, maybe that tonic flavor. It's very light on the actual gin taste. Yeah, I don't taste, thankfully, because I hate gin. I love gin. This does not taste like gin. You're taking more. Well, I'm thirsty. All right. So, my answer is would I buy it again? I'm sorry as a no. Would I serve it to anyone? It's cold, but it tastes like warm, flat, soapy Sprite, or even like generic lemon-lime soda. It doesn't even taste as good as a Sprite. Are you ready to move on to margaritas? I think so. So, our final answer here, one to five stars, I'm going to go with... Zilch. Pour it out. I was going to give it a one. Go up right by it. One. All right. So, no more for this. Okay. So, we're going to move on to the margaritas. The gin and tonics, I said it was like soapy, flat, Sprite, and it was. No one who was looking for the flavor of a gin and tonic would mistake that for a gin and tonic. Yeah, there is no mistaking that. That is not a gin and tonic. No one would sip that and say it tastes just like a gin and tonic. All right. I actually do love margaritas. I did. So... Well, the last time I had tequila, I threw up in my mouth twice. I was at Mr. Day's down on M Street. It's not even there anymore, and I kept drinking for the rest of the night. Good job. So... Good job. All right. Not the best tequila. Ready? Cheers. We're going on to the margarita. Okay. So, I like it better than the gin and tonic, but I don't like it that much. Ew. What do you think? I don't really want to say what I think. All right. I'm having another sip. One more sip, and then we're going to ask ourselves the questions. It's 100% fiesta. I had to kind of make myself swallow it. Unlike the pee-pee man. Yes. All right. So, would you buy it? It doesn't taste good to me. I want to try one of these. Do you think it's better than the other one? Because that one was really bad, and this one is sort of bad. First of all, they're way different, and I guess a gin and tonic and a margarita are way different. Doesn't this feel like a lime seltzer? A little bit. You get lime, for sure. Again, I don't get tequila. No, and I guess maybe... I just, I wouldn't mistake that for an alcoholic beverage, ever. Which, I guess I'm not supposed to, because it's not. But, if the goal is to make this taste like an alcoholic beverage... It doesn't. No one would drink that and think there was alcohol. You know, which I guess is a good or bad thing. I don't know. I noticed the brand, what it's called, because we just talked about that. Ritual? Rituals. They're both Rituals, right? Yeah. They're all Ritual. Today is sponsored by Ritual. Um, I couldn't see myself drinking those. So, you wouldn't buy it? You wouldn't serve it to anyone? Even now, it just does not taste good. So, would you pour it out? I would pour the rest of this out, to be honest. And the gin and tonic. All right. I think this one actually makes the gin and tonic taste a little better. This has a very bad after this. Okay, I think the opposite. Female-male taste? Maybe. All right. Okay, so, I kind of saved the best one for last, which I was thinking would be like our big one. This is actually a bottle of a rum alternative, okay? So, it's by the same Ritual, and they call it a liquor replacement. Warm vanilla, toasted spice, and the velvety decadence of dark rum. Let's see. Without the alcohol or calories. Um, this bottle will cost you $29.95. Better be kept. Um, I mentioned the four-pack of those canned drinks are $13.99. Um, so Dave, let's get some ice, and we're going to make some ice. We're going to make some rum and coke. Who'd you get one? Who'd you get one? I got you, Kevin. Which one did you not taste, Margarita? No, I didn't taste that. Oh, gin? I'm good. I didn't bring a shot glass, so I poured a little- Those are fancy cups. Where did we get our cups, Dave? I got the cups. For our taste test. All right. Are you heavy-handed with your pour? This is mine. Let's just go to, like, that. Okay. And then, ew. I guess I shouldn't say, ew, before I drink it. Get him wasted. Trust me, Kevin. It was a debate. It was a debate. We're on the same page, brother. I had to have real coke. Thank you. Are you ready? Always ready. Are we taking it? Ready? This is Cheers to Dave. So, actually, that's a good time to share one of our new segments, which is called Cheers to That. And anyone that has a celebration of a sobriety date that you want us to mention or celebrate, send it in. We'll announce it during Cheers to That. My first Cheers to That for three years of sobriety on October 4th is Dave. So, cheers to you. Cheers. Thank you. Fucking awesome. Thank you. Cheers. Let's go. This one tastes the most like alcohol. Fan. Big fan here. Wow. Big fan. You like that one? Yeah, I don't hate it. Well, you can take the bottle. It is definitely... It doesn't give you the rum... It is definitely the closest thing we've had to... To real alcohol....comparable between the drinks. The flavors. Yeah, definitely. It's even, like, the kind of smell of rum, like it's the whole... And almost like the, um... All right, take another step....the thickness of the drink, almost. It's like... The decadent. What do they call it? One more. Here's what it is. When you drink it, it's just like a real rum and coke. You smell it. You smell the rum when you're drinking it. Okay. Yeah. No, I'd buy that. And I think you could pass that off. So, would you buy it? You're saying yes on this one. I wouldn't buy it for myself. Okay. If I were having a party or having people over, I would buy it for those who would want to partake. But I also think I could pass that off as being a real rum and coke. Yeah, almost. I think it'd be pretty close. So, actually... If we were doing like they used to do back in the day, like Coke and Pepsi challenges and shit, if I were to give that to somebody who didn't know... So, Ritual did good on the like spirits. They also have, just so you know, you can get tequila, you can get, you know, gin. I just got rum because I thought we'd make a fun drink, but... No, they nailed it. And I imagine you could probably do something on your own, like drop some cinnamon in there, some cloves. Ooh, now you're talking. Make a little Captain Morgan in there. So, okay. So, would I buy this? I'm still like a no, just because I'm not a rum fan in general. I wouldn't buy it. Yeah. I wouldn't buy it for me. I would serve it if it was like, you know, people wanting to have non-alcoholic drinks. I don't know that I would buy it again. That's just me. I'm kind of sticking with my... Well, because it's $30 and three people just put that much of a dent in it. It'll last you half a year. I'm just... If it was this or a Diet Coke, I would pick a Diet Coke. Yeah. You too? Okay. So, we did it, guys. Those are the three drinks for today. We had, I'd say, one kind of successful one. Yeah. And the canned drinks are kind of a no. They don't... Not recommended. Maybe on a super hot summer day on the beach, they would be somewhat refreshing. I could drink half of the margarita one on a beach if it was really cold. Yeah. It's a little... It would have to be really cold. All right. Yeah. But this, I feel like I can get behind this. It tastes just like it. All right. There you have it. I wasn't a real big rum guy either, though. So, I don't... Like, I don't know if I would ever... So, now what we can do is try a different rum recipe. Sure. With that. Anyways. All right. So, that's it. We did it. Well done. Cheers. Cheers. Kevin. Cheers, Kev.