Should a recovering alcoholic worry?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Zach904

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 3, 2014
328
279
Jax, Fl
I noticed a recipe involving menthol drops and everclear... Are there premixed eliquids that contain alcohol? I know there are liquor flavored juices, but how about other types of juices? Im looking forward to the 2 year mark on April 4th, it would suck for someone who is successfully recovering from alcohol have a relapse because an eliquid triggered it... And I know many people in the program who are making the switch to vaping. Also since I mentioned menthol drops, is there an alternative recipe that doesn't contain the everclear?
 

DasBluCig

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 30, 2013
1,450
3,584
Chichester, NH
Hi, Zach......Friend of Bill W. here, too!!:D
You can always substitute distilled water for the alcohol...and keep in mind, when a juice is vaped, it's heated by a coil -- which SHOULD burn off any alcohol....
MOST juices I've seen - and ALL that I use - do NOT contain alcohol, except for POSSIBLE "trace" amounts used in the flavoring...this should NOT trigger a craving.....
Personally, I don't use an alcohol-based mouthwash for the same reason...but I also know many in recovery that DO....and have suffered no ill effects (they obviously do NOT swallow....!)....YMMV...
Me....I'd stay SAFE....and stay away from any juice with Everclear as an ingredient....
BTW....my anniversary date is June 28th, 1993.....ONE DAY AT A TIME!!:)
Happy (vaping) Trails!
 

Zach904

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 3, 2014
328
279
Jax, Fl
Yup, I don't use mouthwash either. Used to eat food at restaurants that had "jack daniels bbq sauce" and other alcohol themed ingredients with the assumption that all the alcohol was burned off or whatnot.. I went to a local burger joint that had a "pirate burger" and the bbq sauce tasted like straight up bourbon. Even other family members thought it tasted that way. The cook could not verify if there was any actual alcohol in it, but it was enough to mess with my head a bit. Luckily nothing bad happened as a result of that sauce, but I avoid those kinds of food as well now. I cant decide what to make of the lack of response to this question. I guess there isn't much of a concern about eliquids containing alcohol. I see that some people use vodka to clean/sterilize their products. There was a report about people abusing alcohol by vaping the liquor over dry ice a while back. So it made me think it is possible with these devices as well.
 

lasttango

What would Freud say?
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 10, 2010
4,067
2,286
Wilmington, DE / Ithaca, NY
www.last.fm
I haven't had a drink since '96... Each person's journey is slightly different - I have alcohol around me and it doesn't bother me... drunks on the other hand, do bother me ;-)

If mouthwash could make you uneasy, then I would be careful around using vodka and everclear as cleaners - you get it in your mouth when you blow it through the atties...

as far as alcohol in juice? I think you can't taste them unless of course if you get a bailey's irish cream vape or something drink flavored...

it's usually a dollop or so to increase throat hit.
 

BlueSnake

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 8, 2012
4,362
10,967
Columbia, SC
I can say I did read a post awhile back from a guy that bought everclear to clean vaping things and ended up drinking it. Blew his sobriety.

I'm coming up on 30 years and personally decided not to get or use any kind of alcohol for cleaning purposes. I do use alcohol based flavorings for DIY, but they are superconcentated and the flavoring percentages are very low. It has never bothered me and I don't notice an alcohol smell to these flavorings at all.
 

Plumes.91

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 30, 2012
5,078
6,388
United States
Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerine are both alcohols. lol. But they are un-inebriating alcohols. If there is alcohol in your juice (besides the PG and VG) its probably a remnant of the flavor's extraction process and/or added for throat hit. You won't taste it. I never taste alcohol in my juice.
 

Spazmelda

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 18, 2011
4,809
4,513
Ohio
I can't speak from experience as to being in recovery, but I do put 4% vodka (150 proof) in some of my DIY mixes and I can't taste it at all. I made some mixes for a guy I know to test, and not being smart enough to ask whether he was okay with alcohol, I just included it. He is also recovered (recovering?) but said he'd try it anyway as he's used liquids with alcohol before and had no problem. He told me later he couldn't taste the alcohol at all. He did say some (cheap) liquids do have a very strong alcohol smell which might be problematic, but that the ones I made were fine. I felt really bad about that as I'd never ever want to be the cause of someone's slip. Next time I made samples for him I used diH2O!

I would definitely recommend alternative cleaning methods for anyone recovering. A dry burn with a water rinse or vinegar maybe.
 
Last edited:
Yup, I don't use mouthwash either. Used to eat food at restaurants that had "jack daniels bbq sauce" and other alcohol themed ingredients with the assumption that all the alcohol was burned off or whatnot.. I went to a local burger joint that had a "pirate burger" and the bbq sauce tasted like straight up bourbon. Even other family members thought it tasted that way. The cook could not verify if there was any actual alcohol in it, but it was enough to mess with my head a bit. Luckily nothing bad happened as a result of that sauce, but I avoid those kinds of food as well now. I cant decide what to make of the lack of response to this question. I guess there isn't much of a concern about eliquids containing alcohol. I see that some people use vodka to clean/sterilize their products. There was a report about people abusing alcohol by vaping the liquor over dry ice a while back. So it made me think it is possible with these devices as well.

I know this doesn't address the question about e-liquid but I think you might still like the info.

Food that is cooked with alcohol still has booze in it. It's a bit of a myth that it all cooks off. Cooking method and time will reduce the amount but there is still some in it either way. Sometimes a little and sometimes a lot. Definitely be careful if it is a concern for you.
 

Kr3wsk8er

Unregistered Supplier
ECF Veteran
Feb 1, 2014
241
227
SB/LA 808-213
Friend of Bill W. here as well, and I am more than liking beating a dead horse here, but you can abstain from those ingredients if you like to, but most if not all trace amounts are burnt off when heated, just as in cooking with alcohol. It is in my experience with my program, working with my sponsor, and sponsees, If you honestly are vaping to vape, and not to achieve an alcohol drunk, than your motive would be pure and this is not a relapse. Not that you could even achieve said alcoholic drunk from vaping. As far as the phenomenon of craving, and obsession, I personally have not gotten either since I finished my steps, and have continued working with other men. Vaping has not triggered either in my experience. Hope this helps and is my 2 cents.
 

johni

Extractor
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 8, 2012
2,007
5,908
Columbia, Missouri
What may or may not be a trigger is personal and only you can determine that definitively. I keep Everclear around for cleaning and a couple of my favorite juices have liqueur flavor elements, all with no problems. Years ago, I figured out that if I avoided everything that everyone else suggested, I was going to lead a pretty dull and sheltered existence. My sobriety (13 yrs) is priceless to me but so is leading a fulfilling life so do what works for you man.
 
Congratulations to all those in recovery! I applaud each and every one of you!

I know one method of getting rid of any alcohol in an ejuice is to let it steep for a day with the cap off. I'm not sure about from a DIY angle. If anyone is interested Rehab Ejuice sold through VapeRev donates 10% of their profits to sober houses and detox facilities.
 

skawtee

Full Member
Apr 28, 2010
17
0
san diego
Friend of Bill here as well. Never tasted alcohol in any juice myself so not much to add on that point. However, i have a question related to alcohol as an additive. It was mentioned that some add it to enhance throat hit. I have some juices that I have let steep with cap on for about two weeks now. They are 6mg, but out of the box the throat hit was waaay too much. Un-vape-able. They are only slightly better now, so I'm leaving the caps off of them for a few days on the assumption that maybe alcohol was added for TH. Am I nuts? Is it more likely newly developed PG sensitivity? I haven't had this problem with any other juice in a very long time and the last one was a cheap-o 18mg so I figured it was just too much nic. But these are 6mg and I am majorly disappointed as the flavor aspect of these juices is excellent, just can't deal with a fireball in my throat.

And congrats on all of the time everyone. Certainly wouldn't be able to enjoy vaping were we all still out there.
 
Last edited:

Caffeine7

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 16, 2013
481
729
Riverside, ca
also a friend of bill since 8/20/04. Altho Ive only been vaping a few months, I haven't had it trigger any cravings. In my line of work it seems like I'm the only one not drinking and I'm ok with that. I avoid alcohol in mouthwash and medications but with vape I've only avoided drink flavors and never noticed anything if theres alcohol in juice. for the same reason i won't buy juice or supplies from head shops or liquor stores. I also won't buy from vendors that make maryjane flavored juice. it bothers my conscience to give money to business that support that. from what I've read, vodka is good for cleaning heads but the $2-3 each for heads i replace them instead of cleaning them and avoid the possibilities. Soap and hot water work well enough for tanks.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread