Just one more sip!

[yigoh]

How do alcoholics get on taking communion if one taste of alcohol or drink starts them off again?

[andy-hughes]

Communion wine is very weak - it is mixed with water.

In RC churches, most priests offer wafers only, not wine, I'm not sure about C of E, but if a parishioner feels that even the merest taste would lead to the urge to drink, then I am sure he or she could abstain from tpartaking of wine at communion.

[seekeerz]

as usual, the voice of reason in a sea of mild insanity, it would seem. Wine is offered in C of E churches [sorry that dates you, andy] we're all s'posed to be Anglican now - but I'm sure anyone with a drinking problem would decline

[seekeerz]

sorry yigoh, I didn't mean your question, just the atmosphere here today/night has been a little - well you read the green post.

[IggyB]

having spoken to an alcoholic that had not drunk for many years but who did take communion about this very subject i was told that it didn't trigger any impulse to drink proper wine or other alcohol etc. as his belief in his religion was strong enough that for him he was symbolically drinking the blood of christ and no just simply taking a drink, as an atheist I was surprised but for those that truly believe I can understand how that wine is somehow very different from other drinks

[Cetti]

They would have a blessing instead yigoh, that is if they wished. It's not compulsory. Many people love the communion service but do not actually take part in the bread and wine part preferring to remain in their seats.

Communion wine is far from weak andy. In fact a church I attended you could get quite light headed just from the fumes if you sat at the front. On asking the vicar about the potency he said it wasn't that strong - only 17 per cent!!!! This is why a sip is all that's required, not a gulp.

[Octavius]

Alcoholics (assuming 1.they go to church, 2. they celebrate communion, 3. they wish to take the bread and wine at communion) can take fermented communion wine.

First, the raw alcohol intake from a communion cup or chalice is so very small as to be harmless and second, in the communion service the (bread and) wine can serve a positive and even redeeming purpose.

I think you will find that most recovering alcoholics will decline, but they have the choice.

[noxlumos]

Can I just spout up as an ex alcohol abuser and lay some very popular misconceptions to rest about alcohol propagated by groups like AA.
One you have mastered the psychological reasons for your drinking, you can either drink alcohol or not, you DO NOT have to abstain for life.
I used to have a major problem with both drugs and alcohol but now drink with meals, in moderation when I feel like it, but never have the inclination to "overdo it" just because I USED to have a problem.
AA is one of the most appalling organisations on the planet and their methods and PR is not to be trusted, so to answer your question, no someone should have no problem at all, if they do it will be purely psychologically motivated.

[Octavius]

I don't wish to generalise as you have, but I think you have to bear in mind the addiction factor, some people are just addictive by nature and that one more bit of something, whether it be alcohol, smoking, gambling, retail therapy or drugs can in a lot (but admittedly not all) of cases lead to a reassurgance of the addiction. Hence, why many people recovering from their addiction will just stay away from it. My belief, it is possible, but with communion wine it is unlikely.

[noxlumos]

It's very common to stay away from alcohol if you have ever had a problem but not necessary ( and I am not generalising) if you have tackled the root of why you are addicted to something.
The whole point is that those with addictive personalities need to learn to control those tendancies, as you correctly identify that many stagger from one addiction to the next without ever truly having understood why they do it. It is their psychology that needs the attention, what they are addicted to is niether here nor there, and once that factor in their persionality is tackled they will not have the fundamental compulsions that cause them to be addicted to anything.
It's one of the major gripes lots of professionals working with addicts have with AA, the root cause is never adequately considered and the addict is disempowered by being taught that they will always be an addict and must avoid whatever their addiction is at all costs and that one slip will mean a steady and slippery slope back to where they started.
Recovering your personal power is such a simple concept that it's awfully hard to convince people it actually works, but it does.

[Cetti]

To take an even broader angle to this question no one is exempt from sitting in a church or taking communion. It can in many cases be a healing service.

Congregations are not made up of strong got- it -all -together people, but those with ordinary human weaknesses such as drug addiction, alcohol, clinical depression to name a few and a loving church (not all, I know) will accept and help every one in need.

[newtron]

I totally agree noxlumos. I like to drink, and I fully recognize that If I am not careful, I can turn into a full blown alcoholic, but I refuse to go the AA route for precisely the reasons you stated. I still occasionally drink too much and I do have to consciously try to control how much I drink, but I have managed to live a normal life without alcohol interfering. I really do enjoy a cold beer now and again, and I would rather face the much greater challenge of being in control and drinking responsibly, rather than just plain denying myself of something I enjoy. I will never surrender and admit that I am powerless to control my drinking. It has been difficult, but when I do get to the stage where you seem to be, it will be worth it.

[yigoh]

Really good answers, that�s what makes this site worthwhile.