Why You Should Consider Not Drinking Alcohol Around Someone Recently Out of Rehab: Understanding Support and Triggers

Why You Shoudl Consider Not Drinking Alcohol Around A Family Member Who Just Got Out of Rehab: A Guide to Support and Understanding

When a loved one returns from rehab, it’s a major milestone in their recovery journey. After dedicating time and energy to breaking free from the grip of addiction, they need continued support to stay sober and avoid relapse. However, even the most well-intentioned actions can unintentionally cause harm. One of the most common mistakes people make is drinking alcohol around someone who has just completed rehab. While this may seem harmless to someone without addiction issues, it can be a significant trigger for someone in recovery.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the various reasons why drinking alcohol around a recovering individual—whether it’s your spouse, child, friend, or relative—can jeopardize their progress and what alternatives you can consider to foster a healthy and supportive environment.

1. Alcohol is a Powerful Trigger for Relapse

One of the most critical reasons to avoid drinking alcohol around someone who has recently exited rehab is its potential to trigger cravings. Even if they have committed to sobriety, the sight, smell, or even the sound of someone pouring a drink can stir up memories and feelings associated with alcohol use.

Why it matters:
Addiction is often linked to psychological cues. Drinking in front of someone in recovery may lead to a flood of intense memories, making it harder for them to resist cravings. Even if they don’t immediately relapse, the internal struggle can cause unnecessary stress and make it difficult to stay focused on their recovery.

How to avoid it:
If you’re at a gathering or social event, choose non-alcoholic options or suggest alternative activities that don’t involve drinking. By removing the temptation and ensuring alcohol isn’t present, you can help minimize the likelihood of triggering these intense cravings.

2. It Can Undermine Their Commitment to Sobriety

In the initial months post-rehab, recovering individuals are in a vulnerable state. They are working hard to rebuild their lives, and a major part of that process is staying committed to their sobriety. Watching a loved one drink in front of them can send mixed signals, suggesting that alcohol consumption is still acceptable or tempting.

Why it matters:
Seeing others enjoy alcohol without consequence can create feelings of isolation, frustration, or temptation. If someone they trust and love drinks in their presence, they may question the value of their own sobriety, thinking, "If they can drink, why can't I?" This can be especially harmful in moments of weakness or emotional distress.

How to avoid it:
Instead of drinking, focus on activities that don’t revolve around alcohol. Plan sober-friendly outings, such as going to the movies, hiking, or having a dinner where the focus is on the food and conversation rather than what’s being served in a glass.

3. It Can Lead to Resentment and Strain Relationships

Recovery isn’t just about the individual overcoming addiction—it’s also about repairing damaged relationships with friends, family, and loved ones. Drinking alcohol in front of someone who is freshly out of rehab can make them feel unsupported or misunderstood. Over time, this can lead to resentment, further damaging the relationship.

Why it matters:
Trust and emotional bonds can be fragile in the recovery process. If a recovering individual perceives that their loved ones don’t take their sobriety seriously, it may strain the relationship. They might feel as though their efforts to improve their life and stay sober aren’t being respected, causing emotional distance.

How to avoid it:
Have an open conversation about how you can best support them in their recovery. Understanding their triggers and working together to avoid them will not only strengthen your relationship but will also provide the emotional and psychological support they need to stay on track.

4. It Normalizes Drinking in Social Settings

For many people, social drinking is a common activity. However, someone who has recently left rehab may be working hard to unlearn that alcohol needs to be a part of their social life. If they’re regularly exposed to situations where alcohol is present—especially by loved ones—they may find it difficult to break the association between socialization and drinking.

Why it matters:
One of the major challenges of recovery is relearning how to enjoy social activities without alcohol. If someone fresh out of rehab is constantly around people drinking in casual settings, they may struggle to resist the pressure to join in or feel left out.

How to avoid it:
Offer alcohol-free social events or set boundaries within social gatherings where alcohol is present. This not only helps the person in recovery but also shows them that there are fun and fulfilling ways to engage in social activities without involving alcohol.

5. Supporting Sobriety Requires Action, Not Just Words

Telling someone you support their recovery isn’t enough if your actions don’t align with your words. Drinking around a person fresh out of rehab may unintentionally communicate that their recovery is not as important as your personal enjoyment.

Why it matters:
Recovery is a long and challenging process. People in recovery need to see that their loved ones are willing to make changes, too. Even though you may not have struggled with addiction, small sacrifices—like choosing not to drink around them—can make a big difference in showing solidarity and support.

How to avoid it:
Commit to being a positive influence. You don’t need to give up alcohol entirely, but avoiding drinking in the presence of your loved one shows them that you respect their journey and are willing to make adjustments to support them.

6. It’s About Creating a Safe Space for Healing

Above all, recovery is about healing—both physically and emotionally. Drinking alcohol around someone fresh out of rehab can make their environment feel less safe. A safe space, free from temptations and reminders of their addiction, is essential for a recovering individual to rebuild their life.

Why it matters:
Being surrounded by triggers or feeling like they’re constantly navigating obstacles can delay or even undo the healing process. If a person feels safe and supported, their chances of maintaining sobriety and leading a healthy life improve significantly.

How to avoid it:
Help create a home or social environment where alcohol isn’t present. Surround them with positive influences and healthy activities that promote well-being rather than temptation.

Final Thoughts: Your Role in Their Recovery

Choosing not to drink alcohol around someone who has just completed rehab is a simple but powerful way to show your support. Recovery is a lifelong journey, and the early days post-rehab are crucial for maintaining sobriety. By understanding the impact your actions can have on their mental and emotional state, you can help reduce their risk of relapse and strengthen your relationship with them.

Remember, creating a supportive environment doesn’t require big gestures—sometimes, it’s the small decisions, like choosing not to drink, that can make the biggest difference in their recovery journey.

If your family needs some support in how to navigate and support a loved on in recovery consider CRAFT model for addiction online services

Addiction and substance misuse impact entire families. While there are no quick fixes, the CRAFT model of addiction offers a tried and true way to help restore sanity in your home. As you start to acknowledge your fears and talk openly about your realities, things will start to feel more manageable.

Whether you’re looking to help a family member stop drinking, looking for an al-anon alternative, or simply have a question about substance use of any kind, feel free to reach out to us. We’ve helped dozens of families live more peaceful lives using the CRAFT model for addiction.

We can help you make sense of what's going on, answer questions, and provide effective tools and strategies to communicate differently; ultimately to live better whether the loved one is actively consuming substances or is currently in some kind of recovery process. You can contact me through the contact page as well.

Here is a great overview of CRAFT presented the the CCSA (Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction.

I’d also like to invite you to read more about my personal story here.

If you’re ready to explore the potential of working together, I’d love to chat.

Phone or Text: 250.896.8494
Email: Coach@MichaelWalsh.com
Chat: Start a WhatsApp chat

Connect On Social
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

---

Michael is based in Victoria British Columbia Canada. The other Recovery Coaches on the team are based in Nanaimo, Vancouver British Columbia Calgary, Edmonton Alberta, Toronto Ontario, Montreal Quebec, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Because we all work virtually — we can work with anyone no matter what city, province or country around the world. We have clients all across Canada and the USA, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, New York City, Denver, Nashville, Berlin, Tel Aviv, London, Singapore and Australia.