Thinking of Drinking

Warning Bells

We have learned not to panic when the thought of a drink comes into the mind. After all, it is a natural thought for anyone to have in modern times, and especially understandable for those of us who have had extensive practice in the art. But the thought of a drink is not necessarily the same thing as the desire for one, and neither need plunge us into gloom and fear. Both can be viewed simply as warning bells to remind us of the perils of alcoholism. The perils are forever, even when we feel so fine that we wonder whether it's really all right to feel as good as we do, now.

c. 1998 AAWS, Living Sober, pp. 43-4
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.