Can you take alcohol to a hospital?

[Slipper]

Can a visitor, who is staying for several hours or overnight with a patient, take alcohol (wine) to a hospital for their own consumption (not the patients)?

 

Editing to add - This is not for my benefit but for someone else. ;) I do engage in an occasional drink, but it's only about 2 or 3 times a year.

[TeenagerMom]

I am not exactly sure what our hospital's policy is, but I am quite certain Security probably wouldn't allow it on the premises. I know they have kicked people out of the smoking area with beer.

[Slipper]

I am not exactly sure what our hospital's policy is, but I am quite certain Security probably wouldn't allow it on the premises. I know they have kicked people out of the smoking area with beer.

 

Assume that it's being smuggled in so it's not blatantly obvious other than the smell of alcohol on a person's breath.

 

(For the record, I agree with you, but interestingly I can't find anything on google to clarify).

[Jennifer3141]

Can a visitor, who is staying for several hours or overnight with a patient, take alcohol (wine) to a hospital for their own consumption (not the patients)?

 

Editing to add - This is not for my benefit but for someone else. ;) I do engage in an occasional drink, but it's only about 2 or 3 times a year.

 

 

That would depend upon hospital policy. But I doubt it would fly over well if anyone saw it. And someone NEEDS alcohol during an overnight/hours long visit? Is this person an alcoholic??

[labst60]

I've heard frequently about folks taking champagne to celebrate a baby's birth!

[nono]

And, I'm guessing, for you, you aren't thinking, "Sheesh, this would be a great place for a cabernet..." :)

 

My cynical side says NO WAY! It's competition for the stuff they dispense at crazy mark-up...

 

:ohmy:

[Slipper]

That would depend upon hospital policy. But I doubt it would fly over well if anyone saw it. And someone NEEDS alcohol during an overnight/hours long visit? Is this person an alcoholic??

 

My opinion is that yes, this person is an alcoholic. Not a stumbling, slurring drunk, but needing a drink to "take the edge off" on a daily basis.

[staceyobu]

Well, hospitals here don't search visitors bags. So, I think you could do it. I think if you ask, they will say no.

[swellmomma]

It would depend. I have known people who have brought a bottle of wine to celebrate a birth, to toast a loved one that is dieing and to celebrate a major anniversary (when I worked in longterm care I had a patient that was with us on his 70th wedding anniversary. His kids/grandkids etc all showed up at the hospital with his wife to celebrate it with him. We had no problem with them cracking open a bottle of wine to celebrate something that so rarely happens now adays).

 

Generally speaking though alcohol is not something that should be brought to the hospital

[RoughCollie]

Boy, times have changed! 35 years ago, I was in the hospital for a week, after surgery. My boss and all my friends came to my room after work every night. They drank the wine they bought ... plum wine, I think it was. The nurses joined them when they got off work. My hospital room was Party Central. (I did not partake.)

[Lizzie in Ma]

When I was staying with my Mom after her knee surgery, my bil brought me what he calls a "roadie". A glass of wine in a 7-11 cup. It was a thoughtful gesture under all the stress we were under.

 

When our dd was born, my dh had made a wheat beer to celebrate her birth and he brought it and shared it with everyone who came in the room.

[amy g.]

I've seen people who just had a baby bring a whole ice chest into the hospital, and loudly offer a drink to anyone who walked down the hall.

 

Then again,that was in New Orleans, so that might explain it.

[Quad Shot Academy]

I have a relative that frequently had the liquor store make deliveries to her room every time she was hospitalized from falling. :glare:

[Serenade]

After my youngest was born my DH brought a small bottle of champagne to the hospital, which we drank with our Thanksgiving dinner. :D

[CalicoKat]

I don't think so. I took my Agave syrup bottle to sweeten my coffee and the doctor just about had a "bird!" He wasn't familiar with agave syrup sweetener.

[nono]

My opinion is that yes, this person is an alcoholic. Not a stumbling, slurring drunk, but needing a drink to "take the edge off" on a daily basis.

 

 

I am a regular drinker. I have to say, the times I've had to sprint off to the hospital and stay with my Mom, it's never crossed my mind to have a drink, or wish for a drink. If that thought started crossing my mind, I'd be putting all drinking on hiatus for awhile.

 

Not saying you should even suggest that to this person, just giving you some perspective from someone who drinks much more than you do.

[Catwoman]

I have a relative that frequently had the liquor store make deliveries to her room every time she was hospitalized from falling. :glare:

 

Gee... I wonder why she kept falling...

[Quad Shot Academy]

Gee... I wonder why she kept falling...

exactly :glare:

[Catwoman]

I am a regular drinker. I have to say, the times I've had to sprint off to the hospital and stay with my Mom, it's never crossed my mind to have a drink, or wish for a drink. If that thought started crossing my mind, I'd be putting all drinking on hiatus for awhile.

 

Not saying you should even suggest that to this person, just giving you some perspective from someone who drinks much more than you do.

 

:iagree:

 

If this person needs a drink that badly during a hospital visit, he may not be stumbling or slurring, but you can pretty much bet that he's drinking a whole lot more than anyone realizes. It's amazing how well some people can hold their liquor.

 

I think it's very sad that he is in that kind of situation, and hope he decides to get help soon. :(

 

To his credit, though, at least he's prioritizing the hospital visit. It sounds like he'll go to the hospital whether or not he can have his wine while he's there.

[justLisa]

That was my thought. Anticipating a situation where one might need a drink is danger zone. I too am a regular drinker, but I don't ever think about it while not at home. I only drink at night while home. If it is a birth celebration, a toast or something I can see. Otherwise I would think you could just ask the hospital?

[Elinor Everywhere]

I am a regular drinker. I have to say, the times I've had to sprint off to the hospital and stay with my Mom, it's never crossed my mind to have a drink, or wish for a drink. If that thought started crossing my mind, I'd be putting all drinking on hiatus for awhile.

 

Not saying you should even suggest that to this person, just giving you some perspective from someone who drinks much more than you do.

 

:iagree: Same with me. I drink regularly but in all the times I've been in the hospital with family members it never occurred to me to bring in alcohol. Now, about 5 years ago when my MIL was in the hospital (lung tumor removal) she asked her husband to bring in some wine and better food. The hospital was fine with it.

[higginszoo]

I would think that it would depend on the particular hospital, and maybe even the floor (I was in one hospital that had an option of a fancy candlelit dinner with wine served to mom and dad the night after baby was born). In general, though, I would expect this to be against hospital policy and would prepare the person trying this not to be surprised to have it confiscated, and maybe even to be escorted out and not allowed to visit for the remainder of the patient's stay.

[Slipper]

Since I couldn't find anything about alcohol in hospitals online, I called my sister who is a floor/charge (not sure?) nurse at a hospital. She told me that typically hospitals expect people to do the right thing and not bring it in, but she has only had a problem with it one time when someone became belligerent. She said that typically they look the other way. My sister also doesn't drink so we were both a bit surprised that people would take alcohol to a hospital.

 

 

Although I don't drink a lot, I feel comfortable in my belief that the person I referred to in my original post is an alcoholic and not likely to change, ever. My advice to them was that the nurses would probably look the other way but to be very discreet and make sure to have someone else driving.

 

If anyone finds a definitive answer, I'd love to hear it. After reading some of the posts, I've revised my original opinion and I think that a guest visiting might comfortably imbibe some alcohol (equivalent to having a drink at a restaurant) if they were staying overnight. I know some people who like to drink a glass of wine before bed.

[Jennifer3141]

Since I couldn't find anything about alcohol in hospitals online, I called my sister who is a floor/charge (not sure?) nurse at a hospital. She told me that typically hospitals expect people to do the right thing and not bring it in, but she has only had a problem with it one time when someone became belligerent. She said that typically they look the other way. My sister also doesn't drink so we were both a bit surprised that people would take alcohol to a hospital.

 

 

Although I don't drink a lot, I feel comfortable in my belief that the person I referred to in my original post is an alcoholic and not likely to change, ever. My advice to them was that the nurses would probably look the other way but to be very discreet and make sure to have someone else driving.

 

If anyone finds a definitive answer, I'd love to hear it. After reading some of the posts, I've revised my original opinion and I think that a guest visiting might comfortably imbibe some alcohol (equivalent to having a drink at a restaurant) if they were staying overnight. I know some people who like to drink a glass of wine before bed.

 

 

I see your point but if the entire reason this person is staying in the hospital overnight is to provide some form of protection for the patient, then an alcoholic actually isn't going to be of much help. So if this is a family member you can advocate for, someone else should be in the room. Alcoholism is a disease too. So you'd have a diseased person trying to take care of a hospitalized person. That's not the greatest plan. In a crisis, is an alcoholic going to be any help???

 

I'm all for someone being in the room to be a patient advocate. But that person has to have their wits about them to be able to do so. And if this person cannot fuction without alcohol... Well, that's one of the definitions of alcoholism. :(

[sunnylady303]

(I was in one hospital that had an option of a fancy candlelit dinner with wine served to mom and dad the night after baby was born).

 

Total hijack (which doesn't negate my appropriate respect and concern for this friend of yours) but does anyone else find this hilarious? Every time I see that this is offered it cracks me up. Maybe others had way different births than I had but I did not feel like a fancy candlelit dinner the night after I birthed either of my daughters. :lol:

[Slipper]

I see your point but if the entire reason this person is staying in the hospital overnight is to provide some form of protection for the patient, then an alcoholic actually isn't going to be of much help. So if this is a family member you can advocate for, someone else should be in the room. Alcoholism is a disease too. So you'd have a diseased person trying to take care of a hospitalized person. That's not the greatest plan. In a crisis, is an alcoholic going to be any help???

 

I'm all for someone being in the room to be a patient advocate. But that person has to have their wits about them to be able to do so. And if this person cannot fuction without alcohol... Well, that's one of the definitions of alcoholism. :(

 

I think this is one of those situations where one has to step aside and say, "It's not the way I would do it". Perhaps people who drink more than I do can explain it better since I don't understand it myself. This is a person who starts mixing drinks by 10 am and continues until bedtime. I couldn't function like that, but this person can (and does). They cook, garden, socialize, shop, etc under the constant influence of alcohol. Not staggering, but I don't know that I would consider them sober either.

 

Currently, they are taking "breaks" to run home and drink enough to keep them going until the next "break". They have recently moved to sneaking alcohol into the hospital. Honestly, their typical steady alcohol "diet" is going to work better than over-drinking.

 

I know it sounds horrible and I'm sure that people will think I'm a bit nuts for thinking that it's "okay". I don't agree with it but there isn't a better solution at the moment. I am trying to work on some alternate solutions to "take the edge off" in other ways.

 

In a crisis, I believe this person could still contact nurses. Again, not ideal, but the other option is for nobody to be in the room. Neither of them want this, they want to be together.

[Slipper]

Total hijack (which doesn't negate my appropriate respect and concern for this friend of yours) but does anyone else find this hilarious? Every time I see that this is offered it cracks me up. Maybe others had way different births than I had but I did not feel like a fancy candlelit dinner the night after I birthed either of my daughters. :lol:

 

I wanted a sandwich, a soda and a nap after the girls were born. :)

 

On a side note, my grandfather once stayed in a VERY nice section of the hospital (they were short of beds so he stayed in a VIP area). We loved it. There was a separate bedroom for him and a living area for guests (fridge/microwave included). His meals included things like shrimp cocktail and filet mignon. lol Loved it. :)

[Jean in Newcastle]

I think this is one of those situations where one has to step aside and say, "It's not the way I would do it". Perhaps people who drink more than I do can explain it better since I don't understand it myself. This is a person who starts mixing drinks by 10 am and continues until bedtime. I couldn't function like that, but this person can (and does). They cook, garden, socialize, shop, etc under the constant influence of alcohol. Not staggering, but I don't know that I would consider them sober either.

 

Currently, they are taking "breaks" to run home and drink enough to keep them going until the next "break". They have recently moved to sneaking alcohol into the hospital. Honestly, their typical steady alcohol "diet" is going to work better than over-drinking.

 

I know it sounds horrible and I'm sure that people will think I'm a bit nuts for thinking that it's "okay". I don't agree with it but there isn't a better solution at the moment. I am trying to work on some alternate solutions to "take the edge off" in other ways.

 

In a crisis, I believe this person could still contact nurses. Again, not ideal, but the other option is for nobody to be in the room. Neither of them want this, they want to be together.

 

There is such a thing as a functional alcoholic. That is what this person is. It doesn't make them any less an alcoholic and doesn't mean that they aren't over-drinking even to a dangerous level - their body has acclimated to it and doesn't show the effects as much outwardly. Because of that, their drinking can be killing off their organs and be affecting their thinking and you don't even know it. The problem with cutting them off though is that at this level they would probably have severe withdrawal symptoms that you also don't want when they are trying to take care of a sick family member. So you're sort of between a rock and a hard place.

[Plucky]

A family member of mine was in the hospital and the dr. said that alcohol could be brought to the patient. Yes, an alcoholic. I was not the person bringing the alcohol.

[ChristineW]

It would depend. I have known people who have brought a bottle of wine to celebrate a birth, to toast a loved one that is dieing and to celebrate a major anniversary (when I worked in longterm care I had a patient that was with us on his 70th wedding anniversary. His kids/grandkids etc all showed up at the hospital with his wife to celebrate it with him. We had no problem with them cracking open a bottle of wine to celebrate something that so rarely happens now adays).

 

Generally speaking though alcohol is not something that should be brought to the hospital

 

DD was born early in the morning on our 5th wedding anniversary.That evening, DH brought in flowers, a nice dinner, cake and champagne. It was a total surprise and one of my favorite memories. .

 

Christine

[higginszoo]

Total hijack (which doesn't negate my appropriate respect and concern for this friend of yours) but does anyone else find this hilarious? Every time I see that this is offered it cracks me up. Maybe others had way different births than I had but I did not feel like a fancy candlelit dinner the night after I birthed either of my daughters. :lol:

 

I was totally not up for something like that, and it was like $200-$300 or something like that. I delivered my older 3 dc at a private hospital in Denver known for serving a certain stereotype -- I didn't really fit it (I was there because my m-i-l's pediatric practice preferred it -- they also served that population, though).

 

I had a Chipotle burrito (when they were just a local chain) and a large Sprite after each of those first three births. I missed my burrito when I had my youngest in another state ... and while there was nothing wrong with the hospital, it was not nearly as nice as the one I had been to before.

[Hen]

this question makes me sad. We buried my mother a week ago, she died at 60 from cirrhosis of the liver. She was *not* a functioning alcoholic, it was very obvious, but my stepfather is. He took breaks while she was in the hospital, to go "sit" in his car. Yup. I don't judge people who drink, but when someone can't go a day without it, something is wrong.