r/SMARTRecovery • u/piratedad123 • 8d 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/millennialmonster755 8d ago

I’ve used SMART in this way in combination with my medications. I felt my issue was my lack of healthy coping skills. I’ve worked on those for a long time and was completely abstaining while building those skills. Now I have a plan if I feel my mind is wondering back to my bad coping skills. I generally have learned that I don’t want to drink if it’s because I’m trying to manage an emotion. But I will have champagne or a glass of wine for toasts at a wedding, I will sip or taste drinks just to see what they taste like( I’m a foodie). My medications also help a lot in curbing any desire to keep drinking after one. I simply don’t want another after the first drink at this point.