I work part-time at a restaurant, it's my first job. My shifts end before most of my co-workers, so the bartenders usually want to make me a drink when I'm done for the day. Sometimes, I have had one, but mostly I ask for a cup of tea/coffee or soda, as I don't like to drink that much. They always look at me like I'm a freak for not wanting alcohol all the damn time.

Just wanted to say hello and find people like me. I hope I'm accepted here even though I occasionally have one drink. I hate getting drunk though, so I avoid that.

Anyways, hello people! How are y'all?

Just found this sub and I wanted to introduce myself. I'm a Sous Chef at a university in Colorado and I'm 7 years sober. It has been a long trip, but the kitchen keeps me busy and I must be a sadist because I just love what I do. A couple of my favorite things to cook are Prime Rib and Bechamel Sauce. It's great to be here, can't wait to hear from you. IWNDWYT.

Hey chefs im back again, I have created a discord for all kitchen members to join where we can meet other chefs with the same gaming interests and play! If you guys are interested in joining maybe just to leave pictures, tell kitchen story's, or even just play games, I'll drop the link!

How are y'all doing?

I'm okay. Struggling with how this pandemic isolation is reminiscent of the drunken isolation. It was (kindly) pointed out to me by a friend that that's just how I'm perceiving it. They're right. The differences between then and now are that I'm sober (thank fuck) and that people will actually pick up the phone and talk to me. Rather than ignoring or sending me to voicemail...or probably blocking me.

Work is okay. We're all coping to the best of our abilities. Every day feels like a tiny continuous panic attack, but that seems to come with the territory of "Am I getting COVID today?" *shrugs*

I'm really glad to see some of you reaching out while I was "away from keyboard".
I love you, even if we haven't met yet.

Tell me about you. There's another "Big Holiday" coming up. Remember that you can come here and let the steam out. Nobody likes a wrinkly chef coat anyway.

A chef I like from my last job just got arrested and is in jail. He started using meth. I only knew him after he got sober.

What should I expect? I'm planning to write to him in jail, is there anything I should/shouldn't say?

I never thought I'd make it this far. I have struggled with substance and alcohol for about 95% of my career and adult life. I would get on the wagon and fall off. Rinse, repeat for 15 years.

This time I know it will stick. Whe. I got sober this time, I left the kitchen for one year to get a base under me.

If anyone needs an ear, please reach out!

This place is starting to feel like I'm writing a blog. I feel weird posting.

I do want to ask how y'all are doing this year. I don't want to be specific, but there's been some crazy shit going down lately. If you're not okay, this is a good (sort of) anonymous way to vent.

I, personally, don't have the urge to drink (or whatever) because of *gestures wildly*, but I am scared. I'm scared for my own personal reasons. I'm, also, angry on a daily basis now. I actually just wrote a really bad song about it, and I love it. It's a really bad heart-break song.

So, how are you? Do you still like this subreddit? Do we need to keep it? u/Cutty_Mcstabby please weigh in.

Hey chefs, I have created a discord for all kitchen members to join where we can meet other chefs with the same gaming interests and play! If you guys are interested in joining maybe just to leave pictures, tell kitchen story's, or even just play games, I'll drop the link!

Hope you're all safe and sound somewhere, warm and loved. <3

We're coming up on the last leg of the Drunkard's Trifecta.

I wish you all a safe night, free from giving in to temptation.

If you're working, may the odds be ever in your favor. I'm blessed with Thursdays off. Also, that's the day my mom got a tax break in my year of birth. So, it's like I was literally born to be an alcoholic.

I'll be involved in something called an "alcathon". An alcathon is about 12-15 hours of back-to-back recovery meetings, making sure that someone can get to a meeting any time of day. This one is for the transgender and gender non-conforming community.

If you feel like you might need an alcathon, check out your local AA/NA/CA/MA district's website. If you don't know how to find that, do a Google search for AA or NA or CA or MA meetings in your town/county.

Please take good care of yourself. Also, if you're not at work, please take precautionary measures and wear a mask if you need to be with other humans. You're better when you're alive. I promise.

What are you doing for yourself today to make it less gross?

Or, what are you doing for yourself today to make it joyful?

I'm just gonna eat ham with my parents because I live with them, and attend recovery meetings on and off through the day. Probably leftover Chinese food.

Also, if I'm not responding to your comments, I don't have a lot to give right now. I am reading them and responding out loud with my mouth. You just can't hear it.

I've added some "flair" to use when posting, if you want to try it out.

Yes, I am still awake. I'd be surprised that you aren't.

How was your "That One Thursday In November" aka "Food Christmas"?

What are you doing to take care of yourself during this shitstorm of a December?

Does anyone else watch "The Mandalorian"? 'Cause, g-ddamn. That last one was a doozy.

Just let me know you're alright.

I'll check in. I'm still doing (at least) one recovery meeting a day. (My name is Steph, alcoholic, They/Them!) I'm still plucking away at the ukulele. I've rekindled my yearning to knit. Thank fuck, because I have A LOT of yarn. I, also, am still living at my parents'.

Work-wise, we're still open. In case you're curious, I'm garde manger at a local Italian restaurant. Our owner is a really good guy. So is the Chef. (I'm not saying that because they pay me.) We got lucky this summer. We could seat at actual capacity with our make-shift outdoor seating patio and terrace.

I live in New Hampshire. It's cold as fuck and we're now (literally) knee-deep in snow. Shit is slowing down now. We're just finding cleaning projects and making food. (Not at the same time. Gross.) The owner is basically holding the building up as restaurants around us close for the winter. With all of this, we're still one of the busiest restaurants in town.

I really love what I do. I was blessed with the opportunity to contribute to the latest menu. Nearly no one has let me do that at other restaurants. I'm scared. I'm scared that all of this will go away. I'm scared for my friends and family who are in this industry.

I hate to be "that person"....but I wish Anthony Bourdain was still here. I think he would've fought hard for our community. Our pirate ship of weirdos.

It's 3AM, and I'm just feeling sad. I just got out of a mental fog that started earlier this year, and now everything is feeling real.

Sorry (kind not sorry) for posting a "Dear Diary". I just want you to know that I'm here. Please reach out if you need someone. Make a post. Leave a comment. It's as easy (or as difficult) as "I'm ____ and I need help."

I was reading some horrific stories about fryer Burns and hot grease related misadventures online.

do Workers consider this as an occupational hazard? part of the job?

Penny for your thoughts.....

Please Share your Stories.

I know a few of us are still awake. How are you? What's new? Did you eat and make time for yourself today?

Just in time for my AA-niversary on Thursday.

I love you all so much. Quick story: Don't forget to change your password once in a while, and definitely check your email/notifications for prompts to change your password. I got perma-banned about a year or so ago for this exact thing.

So, if you see posts from u/justconcentrate, that is/was also me.

I'm so happy to be back in a mod seat. Let me help you with any moderating needs! ...as long as I'm not on shift.

I'm gonna have a Pellegrino this weekend to celebrate.

Keep stopping in and sharing yourself with us. We're here to support this fam!

So, be kind. Be cool. Be excellent to each other.

It's been almost 3 years since I took my last drink. It's been a wild and difficult road. It's gotten easier. I've had loved ones pass away, and I didn't drink. I went to my sibling's wedding, and didn't drink. I was physically assaulted by a chef ..twice, and didn't drink. (I quit that job after the second time. Hard to get the guy fired, if he owns the place.) I moved in with my parents, and didn't drink.

This year: I fell in love and didn't drink. I got a car after 15.5 years, and didn't drink. I got my dream job, and didn't drink...but have developed a Pellegrino habit. *shrugs* I'm able to save money and got a secured credit card, because I'm not flushing my money down the liquor toilet. I learned how to play the ukulele and started learning Spanish, too!

I'm a member of AA. I have a sponsor. I hold service jobs in a couple of meetings. I go to (at least) one every day. I do my version of praying. I meditate when I'm able to do so. I take no shit and do no harm, as well as do no harm and take no shit, to the best of my ability.

and I'm still a cook. I'm still another pirate on the boat. I just don't need to partake in the grog any longer. It doesn't suit me. Not to say that I don't get cravings. Those are still very real, especially when I'm stressed out.

So, if you've read this far and you're struggling, I'm still kicking around this subreddit. I'm not a mod, but I can listen.

Found you guys through kc and think it’s awesome!

Hi there I’ve been i the industry for 40 years, the last 13 sober, I just got back to almost work (only 24 hours a week) and I’ve come down with shingles and the drugs are doing a number on me, I feel like I’m buzzed again and I hate it, I won’t drink today but I don’t like to feel this way

If you're reading this, I hope you're okay. I hope you're safe. I hope you're remembering to eat food, drink water, go for walks, and to breathe.

Today, I'm celebrating 2.5 years of sobriety.

This isn't the reality Is imagined when I first started drying out. The world is strange and scary. I'm living with my parents. I'm unable to work because I'm "at-risk". I can't hug my nephew, or my best friends, or someone new to sobriety who needs to know that they're stronger than they may feel right now.

I'm sure a few of us have tried Zoom meetings by now. I go to ...a lot of them. I listen to the fear, and find the hope. I allow the words of others to bring me light when I start to fade into darkness.

If you need help, I can try to help you find online resources. I can listen to the best of my ability.

"I am responsible when anyone anywhere reaches out for help. I want the hand of AA to always be there, and for that I am responsible."

What that means to me is that I will always be willing to do my best when someone is in need, regardless if it has to do with AA or not.

I'm here. I'll turn my notifications on, if they aren't already.

Not saying I'm an expert about staying sober, but I can listen.

Love you. Steph

So I work in the industry... Currently drunk now, but just wrote the beginning of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign while drunk.. But wish I wasn't when I did. Afraid tomorrow morning I will forget what I wrote. Read what I wrote and wonder how it made sense the night before. All I know is I want to quit drinking, but I know it will be very hard but I don't want this to be my life. I have my third child on the way and as excited as I am, I already feel like a failure. What helped you quit drinking? I plan on still smoking pot but I feel the alcohol is a whole different level of "Missing out on life".

I’m thinking of programs that aren’t Court affiliated and are open to anyone in the industry, so as to help them stay on a path that promotes success in rehabilitation versus backsliding into substance abuse.

Yet are specified specifically for service industry members to stay on a clean and sober path? Anything to that nature?

I just stumbled on a post in r/kitchenconfidential about someone deciding to take the big step and quit drinking/using today, with so many supportive comments (surprisingly, only one tone deaf jackass). Checked in here and noticed a handful of people were currently active - just wanted to say "Welcome."

How are you all doing lately? New to sobriety/attempting to get clean? Having a hard time passing up your standard shift drink(s)? You ok?

Go ahead and lay it on us. This is not the most active sub, obviously, but everyone here is in the same boat you are and happy to listen.

Just found this sub. Unfortunately it looks pretty inactive, but hey, worth a shot! I’m 7 months clean and sober. Gave up drinking, blow, amphetamines, and heroin all cold turkey last December, and haven’t looked back since! How is everyone doing here?