Diet Drinks in Pubs

[G3m]

Hi all,

I have noticed recently that the number of diet options for drinks in pubs is very low. For example, diet lemonade. I have started to notice this because of wanting to order a gin and lemonade but very few pubs seem to have a diet option. I was wondering if any one had noticed the same thing and what peoples opinions are of this.

Thanks,
G3m

 

[Jodee]

Its the carbs you need to look at G3m not so much the diet fizz drinks.

It would also depend on the brand.

If you can buy it by the bottle in the pub you could check the small print on the label for carb amounts)

Soda water is supposedly carb free 🙂

The only thing I notice in pubs is its difficult to find drinks low carb but if only having one its ok on occasion 🙂

 

[Kaylz]

I haven't been anywhere near a pub since I was diagnosed! lol

I did however work in a pub when I was 18-19 and the only diet drinks it sold was coke, irn bru and lemonade (also in the scooshie variety as well)

To be honest the pubs where I am really only sell the above mentioned in full fat versions as well so I wouldn't expect them to carry others in diet
xx

 

[Pine Marten]

This is why I tend to order red wine in pubs. Unless they show me that they have a sugar free tonic, then I might have a G&T.

 

[SueEK]

After advice on here I took a small can of Diet Coke in my bag with me and just ordered a bicardi, that way I’m sure it’s no carbs

 

[Ralph-YK]

F&#$ 😡 cola is only thing you can get, b$#@%& awful stuff. Usually reply to this from people: "Is Pepsi Cola OK?"
😡😡😡😡

 

[Ralph-YK]

I haven't been anywhere near a pub since I was diagnosed!

It's not just the pubs

 

[AJLang]

Being Type 1 for nearly 50 years has never stopped going to pubs and enjoying alcohol, you just sometimes need to make appropriate choices about the carbs.

 

[Kaylz]

It's not just the pubs

I'm aware of that but I haven't been out anywhere for almost 3 years x

 

[AJLang]

Kaylz why don’t you go to the pub anymore? Xx

 

[Kaylz]

Kaylz why don’t you go to the pub anymore? Xx

Cause bruce hangs out with a bunch of fools that just want to get completely drunk out their faces and that's not how I'd choose to spend my time, I gave up drinking so dont want to see folk making an absolute fool of themselves including Bruce as he cant say no even though he can be blootered and hes not supposed to get anywhere near that on his epilepsy medication xx

 

[LauraW]

I was in a nice bar recently and they did no diet drinks - in fact when I ordered a Diet Coke, they tried to give me a full fat one!

 

[Sally71]

I don't drink alcohol so will always order a diet drink in a pub. However, in one of the books I've read on diabetes it recommends that you only have one if it's a bottle or can. If it's dispensed from one of those guns they use don't drink it, as you can't be sure it's diet. In those cases I have water instead.

Martin

There's a way you can test whether they have given you the diet version: dip your finger in the drink, shake the excess liquid off and then let your finger dry in the air. If your finger goes all sticky it’s a full sugar version, if not then it isn't. It works! Or you could blood test it, it will come out hypo if it’s sugar free and not if it isn’t. (Bit of a waste of a strip though, especially if you have to buy your own, I’ve never done that myself but have seen other people do it)

 

[G3m]

Thank you for all of your comments. It has been interesting to see the variety of experiences people have had. I shall take a can of diet lemonade with me next time I go to a bar/pub. Also, I had never heard to the finger going sticky which is really interesting. Once again thank you and any other advice is always appreciated.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Or you could blood test it, it will come out hypo if it’s sugar free and not if it isn’t.

Presumably something much cruder would work, like urine test tape? Presumably that's still available? Hmm, not from Amazon by the looks of it. But they do have 100 dipsticks for £5.49 (they say they last for 6 months after opening) so that would be cheaper than blood test strips. (If anyone used enough of them.)

 

[MikeyBikey]

I changed to either having a bottle or dipping with a Dextostix (available in a pharmacy near you. It is in fact impossible to mix up diet/non-diet drinks on these dispensers as they have different connections to avoid this. It is a case of slap dash work or some idiot thinking you are on a diet rather than have a serious medical condition so think it is funny! I have had a few run ins over the years. Worse offenders are that big burger chain. One barman swore he had served me a diet drink until the landlady accepted the evidence and changed it. He was subsequently sacked for drinking on the job and repeatedly upsetting customers - total idiot!

 

[MikeTurin]

In big burger chains I take carbonated water, problem solved.
Otherwise I take vodka, whiskey or cognac, or wine.
If they have a good beer I could take it.

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Since the sugar tax I’ve found that lemonades like 7Up and Sprite seem to only come in a sugar free versions when out and about now. Apparently a lot of Fanta is too in places like Pizza Express but isn’t necessarily branded as zero for some reason and I would always double check. I don’t know about bottle mixers. The place I’ve found it hardest to get sugar free drinks was Center Parcs as a lot of their restaurants cater a version of healthy choices that are mostly fruit juice based which is no good for us.

 

[SueEK]

Since the sugar tax I’ve found that lemonades like 7Up and Sprite seem to only come in a sugar free versions when out and about now. Apparently a lot of Fanta is too in places like Pizza Express but isn’t necessarily branded as zero for some reason and I would always double check. I don’t know about bottle mixers. The place I’ve found it hardest to get sugar free drinks was Center Parcs as a lot of their restaurants cater a version of healthy choices that are mostly fruit juice based which is no good for us.

I used to like Fanta, I will look out for it. It’s a mine of information this forum 🙄🙄

 

[Lilian]

When I was first diagnosed everyone was given the sticks to test one's urine. I used to carry them in my bag and when ordering a diet drink would put the stick in to test it. Many a time I had been given the sugar version. So in the end I gave up drinking anything which did not come out of a bottle and for me to see the bottle and pour it out myself. Nowadays I only drink soda water with a slice of lemon in. I am very popular on two counts. Firstly I end up being the designated driver and secondly I am not costing much as the soda water is usually free.