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The thing with alcohol is that it can hide huge amounts of calories and unless you know exactly how many calories sit on your mojito, chances are that you're consuming more than you think, plus it sucks to workout the next day. I'm not saying not to go out and have fun but be aware that you're gonna have to workout or eat extra clean the rest of the week in order to compensate and still lose weight.

Honestly I hadn't thought about focusing on stress relief but you are right if I learn to manage the stress it may help manage the eating triggers. The kids and I are going to attend a counseling works support group which starts in Sept. No offense about the alcohol. I'm aware of the research and that does worry me which why I brought it up here. Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I did "better" this week but still a way from back on track.

I really need help. I'm almost two years out. I'm not eating or exercising like I should and alcohol has also added weight. I "know" what I need to do but I need help doing it. Started exercising again on Monday. PS... Lots of change in my life and just now getting on track -- divorce, going from being a stay at home mom to a FT employee, etc.

I didn't read the comments because I have had enough of them to last a lifetime! But obesity is the last safe publicly permitted bigotry. Racism, sexism, homosexual disparagement are not politically correct anymore, but fat people are still allowed. Cause they're weak, and self indulgent. High functioning alcoholics or hot chicks with drug problems are OK because at least they're not FAT. Society sucks.

I'm going to be banded on June 5. I don't drink alcohol but am a diet soda junkie, which I know I have to give up for the band to work. I've stocked up on juices and other things to take the place of my diet drinks. You have to totally commit yourself to the fact there are some things you have to do in moderation if at all. I have heard an occasional drink won't hurt (not sure on that) and that I can have a flat soda pop if I choose but that sounds horrible. It's a very personal decision to get the band and it takes lots of work to get to the stage that you know it is what you want. You found us, so apparently you are quite interested. Where did you plan on being banded. In the US there are some tests required which vary state by state such as sleep studies for sleep apnea; a psych test to be sure you are ready; sometimes an upper GI. By the time you are through hassling with insurance (or perhaps you are self-pay or going to Mexico) you will be ready for your surgery. I've been preparing for the better part of a year now. Emotionally, I am more than ready. Physically I know I have to have this done in order to enjoy life to the fullest. I have aches in my feet and knees and am hoping that taking the weight off will help. I wish you the best of luck and welcome to LBT. It is a great source of support and strength and some very good friendships.

Hi Erynn, welcome to LBT!! 1: NOT THAT I 'M A BIG LUSH OR ANY THING BUT I'M ONLY 23 AND I DO LIKE TO GO OUT EVERY NOW AND THEN (MEANING EVERY WEEKEND OR SO ) BUT I WAS WONDERING IF YOU CAN DRINK AND HOW IT EFFECTS YOUR STOMACH. Drinking is "allowed" post-banding, but anyone who is serious about weight loss will realize that alcohol is the worst kind of empty calories. Another downside is that it can relax inhibitions, making it too easy to eat too much, too fast, or not carefully, with negative consequences that night or the next day. (Or so I'm told, not being a drinker myself.) But there's no physiological reason to avoid alcohol after banding. 2: IS THE SCARING FROM THE SURGERY VERY VISIBLE???? NO! Of course, everyone heals differently, but most of the incisions from laparoscopic surgery are more like punctures than regular incisions. I have three of these that I can hardly find now, and one slightly larger scar that is also virtually invisible. 3: HOW DO YOU EMOTIONALLY PREPARE YOUR SELF FOR SURGERY AND FACING THE FACT THAT YOU CANT JUST EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT ANYMORE???? Well, this varies for everyone. For ME, it was a matter of being completely, totally ready to get healthier. There was nothing more important in my life than my children, and I was literally unable to be an effective or competent parent to them. So that was my "bottom" and once I hit it, food was easy to give up. I was emotionally ready the moment I heard about the band.

Hi Erynn123, welcome to LBT. I'm not a big lush either but I enjoy an occasional alcoholic drink! My doctor says it's not a problem that will bother my band but gave the fairly common - and completely accurate (DANG IT!) - caution about the super high calories in alcohol. The other thing you should know is that carbonation is a no-no with a lap band, which means if you enjoy beer, or Rum and Coke, or Scotch and Soda (blech! lol), or any mixed drink that involves carbonation you'll have to find a new favorite. Beer is my lost love, *sigh*, and I will always remember it fondly, but we had to split up!! Oh well, I'll just have to console my loss with a Margarita! Problem solved. You can see it, sure, but its not horrendous or anything. If you want to see some pictures, there is a thread called Scar Stages Show Yours - just use the search button and type in Scar Stages and it will come up. You'll see some people have more visible scars than others but none of them that I've seen are awful. Mine looks very much like a friends appendicitis scar. I'm only 11 weeks post-op and my scar is getting more and more faint. I'm using Maderma on it. Some people use Vitamin E. When you talk to a surgeon about getting a lap band, ask if he can use plastic surgery type sutures - it's called subdermal - and glue rather than using staples and you'll end up with less scarring. LOL before I went for surgery I attended more "Last Suppers" than Jesus on black velvet! Guess what? It was totally unnessesary. So far I can eat pretty much anything I like just in smaller portions. Granted, I haven't had a fill yet - I haven't needed one - so that's going to change as I lose more weight and have the band filled, but there are lots of people who eat the things they enjoy with their band, AND still lose weight. So far, the best benefit of the band for me is that I'm very aware of what I'm eating, I don't feel hungry all the time, and I eat less. There will almost certainly be things you can't eat - I recently discovered that scrambled eggs are off my menu because I got some stuck and had to bring it back up (it was unpleasant). But that's OK, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy eggs since I like them and they have a lot of Protein with low calories - over easy worked great, hard boiled with a little mayo was great, I haven't tried it but I'm betting coddled eggs will go down fine. Stuff like that. It's not the last time you'll get to eat. It's the last time you'll get to shovel it in with wild abandoned! But, in my case, that was a good thing! lol The lapband isn't magic. It does take work - read my signature line for a great analogy! - but for the first time in years I feel like I'm back in control of my weight. Good luck to you Erynn in whatever weight loss journey you choose. Keep posting on LapBandTalk, there are a lot of people here with a lot of good advise and insight.

In my honest opinion, if you're worried about drinking right now, you're setting yourself up for failure. Drinking alcohol is limited. And Drinking carbonated is basically forbidden. Beer inflames you. Maybe stay thinking about what light beers are out there. I gave up driving socially for 2 years because I needed to focus on losing weight. Now, I rarely even crave a glass of wine. Just my opinion. Focus on what your real goal is. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

Many people don’t understand the obese person’s journey with food. Nor can they relate to actually being under the influence of the intense food cravings, but ask any alcoholic or drug addict what these cravings feel like, and a food addict will be able to recount a very similar craving. The substance most craved with food addicts is sugar, and anyone who has tried to remove sugar from their diet knows how incredibly difficult that can be. The majority of food addicts have been brought up with another addiction. Maybe their parents were alcoholics, abusive, gamblers, smokers or hoarders. The child learned it was safer to turn to food or some other substance for comfort, because turning to a human for a hug or soothing words was impossible. Many food addicts lose weight to get married, only to find that they don’t have the skills to communicate loneliness, boredom, or anxiety to their partner. They slowly begin to turn to what has helped soothe them in the past, which is food. Before long, communication is compromised in the relationship. There is severe weight gain, which begins a disastrous cycle of withdrawing from sex, and turning to food. Soon the partner isn’t happy and the food addict feels shameful and guilty. These feelings of guilt and shame lock the cycle of turning to food even more securely. Weight loss surgery can help minimize disease and help people become more confident and mobile, but if there is an underlying sugar or food addiction, the weight will be re-gained. Sometimes that is in excess of eighty pounds. How can you help if you are addicted, married or know a food addict during the holidays? The key is to plan now. Realize that your partner or friend has a bigger problem than just eating too much. They need professional help, and they need it now. Find out who is on your plan for insurance and what it allows for help with eating disorders. Begin journaling your intake and talk to your partner about journaling theirs as well. This helps you become a team and to feel supported. Encourage your partner to begin turning to you for comfort or if you are alone, have someone who can accompany you to the party. Stay close to them, and when you feel alone turn to them for conversation or hold their hand. This helps delay your sense of needing food. Help them join a food addiction group, and if they are your partner, go with them if they need your support. There are several in Houston, and “Over Eaters Anonymous” offers a 12-step program for food addicts. Your partner suffers shame and guilt every day. Try to remember this, and be gentle. There is a lot of secrecy in this disorder. If they let you in, respect that. Food addicts are hurt, and we as a society can become part of the problem or part of the solution. Most addicts of food (and other addictions) have an enabler. The enabler complains about the behavior, but also supplies the fix. People who are co-dependent or have a low self-esteem may derive their security from enabling an addict. If you live with a food addict, or you suffer a food addiction, the best thing you can do prior to going to the party or being with friends where a lot of food will be present is to have a plan. Set a time limit for yourself at the party and have someone you are accountable to who helps you stay on track. –Mary Jo Rapini *As with all addictions, interventions only work if the addict wants to heal. Harping, nagging and pleading will be met with resistance to change until the addict is ready to make the change.

I know what you mean. My sites were irritated and red with the tape, worse on the last to heal drain site. I took my shower, put alcohol on them then covered with dermatape that was especially for sensitive skin. I was told not to put anything else on them and especially caution putting any creams/antibiotic on the sites. Air dry if possible, I used the hair dryer, and then recover them. I have really sensitive skin and was able to finally heal. Last cover I used was a small spot bandaid and the tape left a little ring for awhile. Please let your doctor know if it looks infected. Good luck. Linda

Then it would be a good idea to say that in your question, wouldn't it? Speaking only for myself, the dealbreaker for me is the presence of sugar alcohols. My sleeve doesn't have a problem with them but my gut sure does. I've lost my taste for sweets, anyhow, so seeking out sugar-free, lactose free ice cream isn't on my radar. I mean I did say can we? And ahhhh ok thank you

Obviously, the surgery is the biggest part of the weight loss...no way could I have done it without being sleeved. I REALLY followed my nutrition plan, religiously, for the first year. No 'cheating' or whatever you want to call it...I buckled down and did my program. I pushed Protein like crazy that first year, and ate very few carbs. I lost mostly body fat and not much of my muscle due to eating that way. I was very lucky, having the surgery put my fibromyalgia, early arthritis and psoriasis into remission; it also lowered my blood pressure so much that I left the hospital off all meds. Those changes in my inflammatory pain made it so much easier for me to exercise, which in turn made the weight loss go faster. I lost about 50 lbs in the first 3 months, 25-ish the next 3 months and the remainder of my loss was slow and over the rest of that first year. I only exercise moderately, I'm just much more active than I was at 262. My fitness level is much better; for example, we just went to Alaska and I was able to hike over 15 miles a day for days on end, without any preparation. Now I'm moving into the time when my restriction has eased up a bit and my stomach is more tolerant of foods. I had quit tracking and have been just eyeballing portions, and I gained 4 pounds on my 2 week vacation. We drank beer or wine daily, and I had dessert several times, so the gain wasn't a surprise but it did remind me that I have to put in the effort to track, watch my alcohol intake closely and skip Desserts. I've already lost 2 of the 4 I gained, which is a relief. It's a life long effort, aided by the restriction of my sleeve, not a miracle cure...and it's the best thing I've ever done for myself <3 Thank you for all the details! You’ve done so great, congratulations!

I had a glass of wine at 4 months out. Tried a Bloody Mary at 5 months but it burned. A couple vodka cocktails at a golf tournament 6 months out with no problem. I didn't really drink any significant amount until my first vacation 9 1/2 months out. I was 10 pounds below goal weight at that point. I probably drink 3-4 times a month now. Which beats the EVERY SINGLE DAY for at least 2 years before surgery. (food and alcohol was how I dealt with my brother's death)

I can drink anything except carbonated beverages (ie beer, champagne, mike's). I've had wine, vodka, whiskey, various liqueurs, and twisted tea. I actually was able to sip on hard cider a bit because it's not quite as bubbly. I could out drink a football team before surgery, and alcohol doesn't really seem to affect me any different postop. I've had 3 cocktails fairly quickly and barely a buzz. As for my tummy, 1 night of drinking isn't too bothersome, but if I drink 2 or more days in a row I do get bad gastritis and I have to take Rolaids and sometimes start a round of omeprazole. The same thing happens if I eat too many sweets. It's kind of a perfect side effect, though. I can indulge "a little", but I know it will hurt if I do it too much, so I don't.

I am by no means a heavy drinker, but with that being said, I like to go out from time to time and have a drink. I went to NYC about 1 month after surgery and I asked my Dr. if it was alright to have a drink or two. Just told not to over do it. I had a few cocktails and just stuck to vodka(Grey Goose) and Water. I always got a tall (extra water) and then just mixed in a Water Enhancer. I didn't have any problems whatsoever. I will say that one drink gave me a pretty good buzz. Since then, I had a few cocktails from time to time, always the same- vodka and water with my flavor enhancer. Always in moderation though. I tried a glass of wine and it didn't go down well. Although I've been known as a wine snob in the past (lol) and maybe it was the wine and not me. Pretty much a bummer because I have about 100 bottles of wine in storage. Oh well, wine makes excellent gifts! We don't want to replace one addiction (food) with another (alcohol). Only in moderation. I would steer clear of high calorie cocktails!

I am so glad to hear how well you're doing!!! I keep telling myself that once I can eat food, I won't be hungry so therefor I won't crave food! I have never been a big drinker (glass of wine with friends or a cocktail), so giving up alcohol is no sweat! I've also not been a big soda drinker. I have always been a Water or milk drinker. If I'm thinking of the same mini ravioli's.... Those things are tiny!!! You can only eat 3? -----------| <------ Aren't they only about that size each? That doesn't seem like enough to sustain the human body. I | | | | | | -------------- think I can eat more than that now! At one sitting I can eat about 3oz of soup. That's over about a 30 min time frame though!

I've struggled with every addiction in my life except, alcohol and drugs. But had every other one out there!! A couple months ago, I relapsed a bit with the gambling thing, but got back out of it after a couple of days, Whew!! Before I got the band, probably around my 40th birthday I decided I was not going to lie to myself anymore. I was going to face the facts, take an account of what was up, and face the truth! Since my birthday, just over a year ago, I......put myself on anti-depressents, quit gambling, allowed myself to lower my wall to the world (I am who I am), got my lap-band. It's not been easy every day, but WOW, my life is tenfold compared to a year ago. Im happy because I face the truth!! That being said, I believe thats why I only relapse at the casino a couple of days, I actually couldnt stomache it anymore. Walked out!! My point is.....I somewhat believe the transfer is true. It's probably easier to get it together before, but if not, the band will open your eyes to the next battle! My advice to the world.....Believe in yourself, Listen to yourself, accept yourself and love yourself!! Okay, how's that for therapy? lol...that'll be $55.00 from each of ya!!

I find this a wonderful checklist to look over when I am feeling off or not losing weight. It's from somewhere else on this site. Enjoy - hope things get better. - Bandpal How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted: You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid caloriesa. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram(1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fatsa. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriateportion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and largeportions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe

Anyone see the Oprah show today? It was about gastric bypass and how once someone can no longer overeat, they substitute the addiction with another, like alcohol or sex or some other addiction. The point being that you must deal with why you have a weight problem before you should ever consider weight loss surgery because you may get a "transference addiction". Carny Wilson was a guest. She talked about her alcohol addiction after her surgery and how she overcame that. Has anyone experienced anything like this after lap band surgery? PS I've posted the same thing on the General discussion panel. I thought it would be interesting to see the replies.

I can see how this can happen. My neighbor had GBP while her marriage was in trouble. After the weight came off she partied and drank herself into a alcohol problems. Her husband stuck by her through it all and with therapy they are back to a happy place. She regrets her reaction to her success and is more thankful that at least one of them remained committed through the process. I believe my marriage to be strong and very committed. But quite frankly it's important to stay diligent through this process.

I waited about six months. I usually do spirits and some kind of non-carbonated mixer (unsweetened iced tea or sugar free lemonade/limeade work well). Be careful if you've lost a lot of weight, though...me at 245 could drink a LOT more than me at 95, so you definitely want to try it the first time when you're either at home or have a Designated Driver because I guarantee your tolerance will be much lower than you expect. I HAVE to limit myself to 1-2 servings (not "drinks", servings of alcohol, of which many cocktails contain more than one) or I get sloppy. I want to point out that I only drink once a month before someone pipes up to tell me I'm on a train with stops back in Fattown and Chubbyville again. Learning to indulge intelligently and moderaterly, in my opinion, is a key to long term success.

Im a mild dumper. I've tried some cake and on another occasion some chocolate. Small amounts. It makes me feel incredibly nauseous and I start to feel hot and a bit flushed. It dissipates after 15-45 minutes. Some people will say im an idiot for even trying those foods (and is why I lose slowly) but as part of living my life with RNY im choosing to indulge on the odd occasion and definitely in moderation. A bite of chocolate cake insread of the whole cake ( not exaggerating) is progress im proud of! I haven't yet tried alcohol. I do enjoy a glass of wine even now and then or a beer on a hot day, but haven't yet seen how it might affect me.

No one told me not to drink - I just decided on my own. Never even discussed it with my doctor. Liver shrinkage was the main reason since alcohol is bad for the liver. But I take back my advice - everyone must make their own decisions.

You will get there! This is legit the first time I ever seriously quit (& hopefully the last, too!) I’m 34 and I smoked for nearly 20 years. 😳😳. What was crazy is I dreaded quitting for years... and then I did it and after 3 days it got much easier. Beware of the terrible threes. The hardest times for me were 3 days, the third week, and the third month! Also, stay clear of alcohol. Alcohol makes you want to smoke and impairs your decision making to weaken your resolve. I used a mix of Wellbutrin and the Juul e-cig to quit. However, having to then quit nicotine in the electronic cigarette was another addiction I had to break- so it may be worth your while to vape nicotine free juice if you go that route. Good luck and you got this! I tell myself I’m not going to let cigarettes or nicotine be the reason why this doesn’t happen, because that would be a lame reason. If I legit do not want to go through with it that’s one thing, but letting cigarettes control my life? No way! Best wishes to you!

I am having a MUCH easier time this week with the scale......but I have been super busy getting ready for school. Sooo hang in there, next week will be easier!!! I have not drank at all since being banded, so I don't have an answer about the alcohol. I made a HUGE mistake tonight. For some reason, I am stuck after eating a granola bar too late in the evening....now I can't lay down without it coming up, so here I sit......and I needed sleep tonight!!