Does drinking non-alcoholic wine for communion pose a danger to a recovering alchoholic?

Question

Our pastor currently uses grape juice for communion because he fears the possible psychological effect that drinking non-alcholic wine might have on recovering alchoholics.

Answer 1

He is correct that nonalcoholic wine will cause problems for a recovering alcoholic but I don't know that I would call it psychological. It can cause them to start drinking again. Contrary to popular belief, nonalcoholic beer and wine still contains alcohol because there is no way to eliminate it entirely. Read the fine print of any label and it will tell you that there is alcohol in it.

Answer 2

well no not if you know for sure you nvere want to go back down that path again

Answer 3

He's very considerate.  A person who is very new in what is popularly called "recovery" might have a problem with nonalcoholic wine being a "trigger".

This is totally a psychological thing, though...nonalcoholic wine has approximately the same alcohol content as orange juice that has been left open in the fridge for a day or two...and nobody bothers to worry about that.

Alcohol is not the bogeyman.  It's just a substance that some of us can't handle.