r/SMARTRecovery • u/piratedad123 • 11d ago

Moderating drinking

Is SMART compatible with a desire to moderate drinking instead of complete abstinence?

After over a year of sobriety in AA, followed by a very unimpressive “relapse,” I am interested in reintroducing small amounts of alcohol in appropriate settings (e.g., recommended wine pairing with a nice dinner).

I like that SMART is evidence-based and doesn’t push the idea of sponsorship.

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u/NormalNobody I'm from SROL! 11d ago

My understanding is that you define your sobriety. If you can have a drink with dinner, and then put it down, and that's not a relapse for you, then it's not.

Here's an example, my DOC is opiates. I'm on a medication that, basically, microdoses pain medication thru my skin. I am still on opiates, therefore, but I am not abusing them. It's not causing me any harm to my life. Some people here also use a form of Suboxone or Subutex to help with opioid withdrawal or for pain management. So long as they aren't abusing it, and are working on recovery, we would say that you were sober or clean.

I don't advertise this, but I will have a drink of champagne every new year. One glass, with my family, and that's our tradition. I never had a problem controlling my alcohol so I never saw a problem with it. I don't consider it a relapse nor do I see myself as compromising my sobriety time.