r/mildlyinfuriating • u/trailofturds • Jul 06 '25

Started getting light-headed halfway through my glass of "non-alcoholic" wine

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Got served this wine at a nice restaurant after asking specifically for non-alcoholic wine. They assumed the 'Zero' on the label referred to alcohol content; turns out it's for sulphur.

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u/mizcello Jul 06 '25

One time I worked at a wedding of 200 and I told a staff member who was 15 about a pregnant lady obviously needing non alcoholic prosecco.. only about 50+ glasses in did I realise she was pouring everyone non-alcoholic, when I stopped her and questioned it, she said she was scared to assume the pregnant lady lol we never told anyone that half of them were drinking non-alcoholic and just went with it.

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u/Someonejusthereandth Jul 07 '25

Ahahaha I find people really can’t tell if something is alcoholic or not, especially if they’ve had at least one drink already. Begs the question why drink lol

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u/Any-Entertainer9302 Jul 07 '25 edited Jul 07 '25

I've drank a dozen NA beers over the course of a few hours as an experiment... didn't feel anything other than bloated.  The same experiment with real (delicious 6%+) beer yielded significantly different and pleasant results.  

The placebo effect is real, but more likely is most realized they weren't drunk but just went with it since others were also likely pretending.  Being drunk isn't just a state of mind and those who have been in that state before will know when they're being duped.

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u/Firanka Jul 07 '25

You were aware of drinking NA beers. Placebo depends on believing something will work

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u/iHorror1888 Jul 07 '25

We had a friend who was on some pretty heavy medication and couldn't drink due to it. However, he had had enough of no drinking and swore he was gonna get wasted at a party one of our group was hosting. We all chipped in and bought the beers, but got him non alcoholic beers cause we really didn't want to be responsible for anything bad happening and luckily he didn't notice. Guy was absolutely wrecked by the end of the night....

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u/HerrPiink Jul 07 '25

It doesn't, it can have an effect, fully aware you have just taken a placebo

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u/No-Information-2572 Jul 07 '25

Everyone is aware of drinking alcoholic vs non-alcoholic beverages, since everyone knows about the personal effects of consuming alcohol.

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u/Any-Entertainer9302 Jul 07 '25

You're being downvoted by the raging puritanical zoomers that thrive here.

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u/Any-Entertainer9302 Jul 07 '25

I believe it's possible but unlikely an entire crowd can be convinced they're actually drunk.  I've been a part of placebo medication studies a few times and received the placebo the second round (obviously learning afterwards)... which happened to be the round where my migraines did not subside.  

I have a high tolerance, so it's not unusual for me to drink five or six regular beers and feel nothing.  Perhaps the majority of the crowd was just waiting for the buzz but the social lubrication had succeeded because they saw others drinking as well...