Guidelines for Sobriety Challenges

[Tobin]

After some recent discussion about the nature and purpose of these challenges, the moderating team have come up with some basic guidelines. Sobriety challenges should definitely have that goal as the focus - rather than more vague aims of controlled drinking - we have separate threads which deal with that.

However this shouldn't mean that mistakes are not tolerated, as occasional slips sometimes happen; but they can be opportunities to learn or reassess the situation - a valuable opportunity to discuss and get feedback from the other people on the challenge. And then if a 'one-off' mistake turns into several drinking episodes, it should be suggested to the person concerned that they try a 7 day challenge again, or even just a weekend.

I hope this clarifies things.

[zelda]

Hi Tobin.
It seems there is a problem defining sobriety. does it mean abstinence or does it mean not being drunk?
Z

[Tobin]

In this instance it means abstinence.

[BobbyV]

I too thought that 0% doesn't count, but PHM obviously did. I discussed this with my wife because I was confused about this. The beer was in fact 0.05%, so I don't know why he made a big deal out of it, to be honest. It would have been best if he hadn't even mentioned it, in my opinion.

Rob

[Lost Sheep]

Hi Tobin

The general consensus was that the sobriety challenges meant abstaining - so thanks for clarifying that for us all.

David

[BobbyV]

Yes, thanks Tobin. I'm glad this has been cleared up once and for all.

Rob

[Tobin]

Drinks that taste like alcoholic ones, but that in fact contain no alcohol, still leave you sober - so they should be tolerated here, especially if it helps people to stay abstinent.

[zelda]

thank you for clearing that up Tobin.
Could you maybe move all the discussion to the ideas for the forum thread now as it might put off the newbies.
zelda

[BobbyV]

Great idea, Zelda.

Rob