Does being sober include alcoholic chocolate?

[Exceptionalice]

I feel like this is a really stupid question but I genuinely don’t know the answer.

I’m just over 8 weeks sober. 29 years old and just realised that my alcohol consumption was ridiculous. I used it to try and fend off my anxiety but I realise now it just made it worse. I was getting though maybe a bottle of wine a night, occasionally a bottle of Ameretto.
So I stopped drinking for a couple weeks, went to a wedding and had a wine, and had a terrible panic attack in the middle of the night. Since then I’ve been t-total.

my question is, does chocolate containing alcohol ruin my streak? My absolutely favourite chocolate at Christmas are cherry liqueurs and my dad asked if I can have them as he was planning on getting me some.. and I don’t know! Can I? Am I truly sober if I have them? Is it ok to say I’m sober if I eat them or is that offensive to those who work hard to avoid absolutely all alcohol.

Thanks everyone for the replies.
I think my self control is pretty good, after my ‘control’ glass of wine at a wedding 8ish weeks back brought on a huge panic attack that pretty much solidified my choice and completely u-turned my mindset on alcohol. It’s clear it doesn’t agree with me and I hate the mental health decline so much that it’s completely abolished any craving to drink.

I do however drink 0% beer, because I genuinely like a beer, but I’ve not yet thought oh I want the real thing now.

i think I’ll just see how it goes, im not going to rush out to buy any of the chocolates. But if there given to me or offered by anyone else I may have one as a treat. I’m fairly certain it won’t trigger me into drinking again.

On a side note, I feel like I don’t give myself enough credit in life. I generally feel a bit weak and not very strong-minded as a person. But this, and having gone cold turkey on smoking 6 years ago had made me realise I think I am stronger than I give myself credit for.

I would not recommend. My ex is a long time recovered alcoholic and I would not have them anywhere near him. They are literally alcohol sitting inside a little candy shell, you might as well put it in a glass. If he is here over Christmas periods then I make sure even the Christmas pud is alcohol free (and he hasn’t drank in twenty years). Always keep one step ahead or you will slide right back down again.

And well done for being self aware enough to change your unhealthy habits for the better.

Dont do it, not worth it - just have chocolate, and well done, keep going. you have woken up to it all.

‘No thanks, Dad, I’d now prefer alcohol free chocolate’

Likely your taste has changed and you wont appreciate them anyway, or you will worry about ruining your sober streak or be tempted to have a drink. So I would avoid.

However if you fancy one, and think you will enjoy it you should. Just sounds like you won't as your questioning it.

If you are an alcoholic then nothing with alcohol. My friend even avoids homemade Christmas fruit cake because some people over do the feeding of the cake. They know that the slightest taste of alcohol might set off their craving and they know they are not strong enough to resist.

You do what you feel comfortable with. I personally use alcohol in cooking, like in a stew or a pasta sauce and I don’t have any issues with that. I’m 2.5+ years sober now.

I won’t eat stuff that’s ‘boozy’ though, no rum cake, no Christmas pudding with brandy butter. I had a fondue recently that I literally couldn’t eat because it was so alcoholic. I wouldn’t eat one of those chocolates that was like an actual alcohol bottle (used to love those!), but maybe one of the cherry ones. It would just depend on how boozy and also why I was eating it. If it’s because I love them and will just have one? Or is it because it has alcohol and I’m replacing an alcoholic drink and chasing a buzz? Because those are different.

@Exceptionalice congratulations! My BIL has just passed his year of no alcohol and I know how hard it's been for him.
For your warm evening drinks, have you explored the wide variety of fruit or herb teas available? They are quite nice in winter months

Yes. Clue is in the name.

I've never personally had a problem with booze but have recently quit entirely due to having alcoholics in the family and just thinking nope.

So, I've had a tub of Bailey's ice cream in and out of my Ocado trolley this week deciding if it "counts" or not.

Have swapped it for another type of ice cream because it just makes me feel better to make the decision that no means no.

Some alternatives for you, that you can enjoy without worry. The Forest Feast are available in many supermarkets, have seen them in Tesco, and in larger bags. The M& S ones are delicious, and the Hotel Chocolat ones look more of a gift

well done for making this change, wishing you a peaceful Christmas

And this tea is really nice for a hot drink in the evening https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/no1-sour-cherry-infusion-tea/986525-1-2?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20836165832&gbraid=0AAAAADnhuuW2qKzyQtA_swbQ9XEMu6ypu&gclid=CjwKCAiAl-JBhBjEiwAn3rN7bSlVFwz1PU8hOG8yigCszQr3xSt1vPmAl4wW-yx-SUjWJ2syzo-xoC-nsQAvD_BwE

Avoid. Not worth it.

I consider myself sober and I eat food with alcohol in it (Xmas cake, chocs, mussels in white wine sauce). I do not and cannot get drunk off of such a tiny amount and being sober for me is about being unaffected by alcohol.

But I suppose it’s a personal choice. Most alcohol chocolate doesn’t contain any real % alcohol anyway.

i think far fewer people drink now, it’s acceptable not to, in a way that it wasn’t previously. Good luck OP & well done.

If you were CERTAIN it won't trigger you, you wouldn't have asked.

Drinking 0% beer with ZERO alcohol in is different to drinking chocolates with actual alcohol in.

Advice seems to be - there are a billion chocolates in the world. Why on earth risk it? But if you choose to risk it for no good reason I hope it goes ok

I didn’t ask because I’m worried it would trigger me. I asked because I consider myself sober, and didn’t know if by having these chocolates with alcohol in would mean that I am technically not sober. I don’t want to look an idiot when someone asks how it’s going being sober while I’m unwrapping a cheer liqueur 😆

I am absolutely 100% sure it won’t trigger me to drink again. I just don’t want to call myself something I’m not ☺️

Well if it makes you feel better I’ve had a couple and also stuff like mince pies etc and consider myself fully sober. Perhaps if I was having a tonne and felt tipsy I wouldn’t, but not one or two!