Is it a bad idea for a recovering alcoholic to enter a liquor store?

[Anonymous]

After having entered a liquor store to buy my bestie and my parents some yummy sounding wine to enjoy over Christmas, (they’re not moderate alcoholics, like me); after being sober for just two months past a year, I started to get really thirsty for alcohol. Until my mouth watered and I became almost obsessed with the thought of getting drunk on it. I’ve not felt like this before. Not from entering a liquor store or buying booze as gifts for others. Should I avoid buying booze in future?

[Anonymous]

I would avoid it. I am 6 years sober and still avoid the wine aisle in the food stores. It just gets me thinking about it and I don’t want that anymore. If I do go down that aisle I will focus straight ahead or look more to the side that doesn’t have alcohol. I don’t examine the wine. It is just well marketed poison after all. I am fine in restaurants where alcohol is served though.

Be careful in that your mind will have you believe that you can handle it now… its a trick you play in yourself. I fell for it so many times that now I know for sure I can’t.

[zagor]

If it affects you like that, yes. Others may have no such problem.

[Rei13]

If I were in your shoes I would. You’re just putting yourself in a situation where you’re going to think about it more than usual and torture yourself. There are a ton of other options as far as gifts go that don’t involve alcohol and you can get pretty creative with them

[artgorgeous]

People will say that you should avoid it. But honestly I think you dont care about our opinion.

[Anonymous]

Sure, as long as you can handle any urges that might suddenly come up.