Drinking can be dangerous no question, but Mikes Lemonades have much less content than the average alcoholic beverage. When I worked in the beer factory (briefly) I learned that a 2.5-5% drink was far lower than anything they sold there. In fact I learned that Utah could not sell any beverage beyond 9% and that the average beverage was much higher at 12% sold to other states. So with that in mind would it still be dangerous to drink just for the enjoyment? For me its not the alcohol but the sugar that drives me as I am a major candy alcoholic. Unfortunately I am not aware of any non alcoholic version of Mike's and believe I have contacted them. Regular lemonade does not taste as good as their versions.
Yes, it can be dangerous to drink just for enjoyment. Alcoholics did not take their first drink to because they wanted to be addicted. That does not mean that it is for an individual - just that the potential is there. The first caution is drinking for the taste or sugar. The alcohol does also have an effect - even if it is not becoming drunk. I disagree with many on previous discussions because I don’t believe that the effect is necessarily negative - but “I just like the taste” as a defense for drinking is a bit childish. We are not (or shouldn’t) be controlled by our senses.
The article I posted does a good job of explaining my view and addresses some of your concerns. His struggle was, BTW, with Mikes lemonade.
http://www.cerm.info/bible_studies/Topical/alcoholic_beverages.htm
My caution is that when one gets to the point of alcohol content to justify a particular beverage…well, then there may be a problem. If I enjoy a scotch with a high alcohol content, that does not mean that I am a drunk while the Mike fan’s are enjoying the fresh lemon flavor (I don’t, BTW, drink scotch…yuck). Years ago I’d enjoy a Schlenkerla (a smoked German beer). I’d have one, once or twice a year. The alcohol content was above 6.3% so a liquor store carried it. I never caught a “buzz,” but I have a friend who became an alcoholic on Coors light (well below 5%, if you’re counting). But my point is that it isn’t the alcohol content of a beverage as much as the amount consumed within a time frame. But if you are drinking, cautiously making sure that you don't consume too much; researching the alcohol content verses what it may have been way back when...maybe that is too much work. I abstain because of the dangers that it can have for me and others (I now have a son, and children do not understand moderation - it’s black and white with them). So I don’t condemn “moderation” (by my definition of the term) - but I advocate abstinence, just not legalistically. That’s my decision based on my conscience - and I am in no way saying that this applies to you.
Do you know of a non alcoholic version perhaps sold in another state?
We adapt to tastes. If it is a good lemonade you are looking for, that’s easy. Buy some sugar and lemons (fresh- not lemon juice). But you will not find a non-alcoholic version of a drink that tastes like the alcoholic version.
