Expert: Clyde - 11/3/2009

Question
I have 25 years of sobriety. Would really like to start drinking in social situations, or having a nightcap.  Can I?

Answer
Barry,
   Thank you for the question.  In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous there is a story told of a man who drank some in his earlier life but decided to quit as he built a very successful business for himself.  I believe it says he had 25 years sober at the time of his retirement.  He decided that he owed to to himself to have alcohol in moderation after these many years - sadly, he died in about four years, deep in the throes of alcoholism.

   That is enough for me, an alcoholic with 20 years of drinking history and 15+ years of sobriety, to decide I do not wish to ever partake of alcohol again.  See, we say in AA that alcoholism is a progressive disease meaning that we do not start over, but we pick up where we left off.  I would suggest that the answer is "no" , but that is only for me.

   I hope this may have helped.

Grace and Peace,
Clyde