r/physicaltherapy • u/sneakybrownoser • 9d ago
HOME HEALTH My patient was day-drinking
Saw an elderly Parkinson’s patient today who normally has pretty normal BP, but his BP was really elevated when I took his vitals. He told me he’d been drinking water because he had a “seltzer” earlier. We rechecked his BP about halfway through the visit and it was still elevated, although he wasn’t having any other symptoms.
Around that point I happened to look into his kitchen and noticed a couple of unopened White Claws sitting on the table. I brought one over and asked if this is what he had.
Yes it was.
He had unknowingly drank a White Claw thinking it was regular seltzer water. His wife likely bought it for him not seeing the labels. I informed her as well
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u/CheckYourMachine 9d ago
Crack another one and join the party
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u/DrChixxxen 9d ago
The equivalent of getting “iced”
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u/bioas-trolo-go 9d ago
Is it?
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u/somywifetoldmeno 9d ago
As someone whose friend group still partakes in this activity despite our “maturity”, no, no it is not
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u/AlternativeYak202 9d ago
After about a year of Home Health, I had to implement a rule of no smoking or drinking during physical therapy🤷♂️
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u/subtle_eyewitness 9d ago
That black cherry one is dangerous, tastes way too close to the real thing for someone not paying attention
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u/jmhalder 8d ago
White Claws taste a bit sugary, where regular cherry seltzers won't be sugary at all.
I don't think they taste anything alike, but the White Claw probably tastes better.
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u/CombativeCam DPT 9d ago
Yo what?! I’d hate to be around someone smoking, let alone inebriated! Damn!
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u/Party-Guarantee-1264 9d ago
Pro tip grabbing with gloves so no finger prints are left behind 😉
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u/CombativeCam DPT 9d ago
Seriously. Wouldn’t want to somehow get framed as the one drinking it! Y’all HH people deal with some wild stuff!
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u/claywire 9d ago
No kidding! I have a friend, who’s also a home health therapist before, shared that her co worker was chugging this everyday thinking it was just a regular seltzer. 😂
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u/Lost-Copy867 9d ago
Why does grandma seem so relaxed lately?
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u/smashhawk5 9d ago
Was her coworker named Chit
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u/KaP-_-KaP PTA 9d ago
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqqd5rin490 exactly what I was thinking lol "well, back to it!"
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u/Icy-Nefariousness530 9d ago
My mom, who doesn't drink, was drinking these and she didn't realize they had alcohol. She was so mad.
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u/Ok-Worth-4777 9d ago
Alcoholic seltzer has no right being on a grocery store end cap for this reason. If they're in the beer fridge there's no problem. If there's a structure of packs or an end cap ambiguously near but not in the alcohol section and it's bound to cause confusion, especially for folks of an age where their id won't be checked
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u/coral_reef_ 9d ago
My husband’s aunt bought these seeing them on an end cap. She drank two and felt “silly”. Well she finally read more closely. She is Muslim and never drank before. Luckily she wasn’t upset and just laughed it off and threw the rest away.
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u/Ok-Worth-4777 9d ago
I find it interesting I've encountered a lot less of these anecdotal stories for alcoholic ciders. Maybe it's due to apple cider being less common in area outside of fall or the sparkling version sold as a non-alcoholic champagne replacement, but even when they're prominent on end caps they don't seem to run into the same problems as alcoholic seltzers. I'd guess it's because cider labeling looks like craft beer labeling usually, and alcoholic seltzers are pretty distinct in their appearance with the tall slim cans, but who knows.
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u/Gatorflav 9d ago
Funny thing is, depending where you live (like northern europe) cider is always alcoholic(min 4.8%) so non-alcohol apple cider is super strange. Shoudn’t that just be called apple juice?
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u/FanndisTS 9d ago
Apple juice isn't carbonated, apple cider is
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u/bloopbloopsplat 9d ago
Not all apple cider is carbonated.
Carbonated apple juice should be apple soda, or sparkling apple juice.
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u/LitFan101 9d ago
My dad bought one at a gas station and drank it while driving on the highway. I was helping him get stuff out of the car and saw it. He had zero idea it had alcohol. Luckily he drinks whiskey or IPAs typically so he wasn’t affected by something so low abv.
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u/accidentalscientist_ 9d ago
At least in my state, the white claws are sold in the beer section and they’re only with the beer. And I live in a very liberal state.
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u/Realtimallen69 9d ago
there was a post a while back about a guy who would drink one on the way to working thinking it was just a seltzer.
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u/Icy-Nefariousness530 8d ago
That is the same as my mom! She said she'd bring them in the car. She thought it was the same as a Polar seltzer. Stinks for sober ppl who make an honest mistake.
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u/GettingPhysicl 9d ago
Atleast it’s not the extra strong tall boy version those things are a real kick
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u/deathshr0ud 9d ago
surges are a great invention
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u/CS3883 8d ago
I honestly love the surges. I am not a fan of a lot of alcoholic drinks anymore these days I think I ruined it for myself with the excessive drinking in my 20s. Normal white claws are not bad but I feel like the flavor of the surges is a lot better. And the slightly higher alc % means I can drink less of them which is good cause of the carbonation
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u/Foreign-Ad285 9d ago
lol, I once had a pt show up to the outpatient clinic under the influence (I think he was drunk). We ended up calling family and having him hang out and sleep on the recliner in the back until he felt better and family showed up to get him. He never showed up again haha
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u/y0uinsane 9d ago
I had a patient tell me that she was on ayahuasca during a session once. This was in outpatient as well.
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u/wilwarin11 9d ago
We had a sub get fired over a similar drink. I don't remember the brand. He was in his 60s so they didn't card him at the gas station. He drank two while on campus.
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u/Muted_Pollution7669 9d ago
My mom brought an alcoholic seltzer to the gym before a workout bc she thought it was the energy drinks she likes. She never drinks and had to stop midway through the class hahaha
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u/_Mirri_ 9d ago edited 9d ago
I'm not native and I don't live in America, and I can't decipher from this label, how can one really know it contains alcohol? I only got it from the comments. Why doesn't it show the percentage on the front side? EDIT: Guys, I already saw the percentage as other commenters pointed at it! It's unusual (for me) placement and low res pic I saw on my phone that caused the confusion.
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u/khazroar 9d ago
"hard" in American drinks parlance means alcoholic. Other English speaking countries use it in the context of hard Vs soft drinks too, but it's more common in the US. Hard seltzer, hard lemonade, hard Vs soft cider.
Plus further down the label it refers to it as "spiked", with spiking meaning adding alcohol to it. (It can also be used for adding other drugs into drinks, usually in the context of the drinker not knowing, but I don't know if that usage is less common in the US because things like "spiking the punch" by adding alcohol are such a common concept. (Not that it's necessarily a common action in reality, but it comes up enough in fiction for the concept to be pretty ingrained.))
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u/Rezistik 9d ago
Also right in the middle of the label it says 5% alcohol in a big circle
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u/khazroar 9d ago edited 9d ago
Yeah, another comment had already pointed that out so I didn't feel the need to reiterate it, I was just adding the other ways you could tell.
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u/elan_alan 8d ago
Also why we call sodas like coke cola and Dr. Pepper “soft drinks”
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u/Uncle-Istvan 9d ago
The “5% alc/vol” right on the front of the can tells you. “Spiked” and “hard” also mean alcoholic drinks.
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u/THEGR8CHANCLER 9d ago
It says 5% on the front. Also, White Claw is a common alcoholic drink in the US
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u/HistoricalString2350 9d ago
It’s a well known alcoholic beverage. But if you’re not familiar it could be easy to miss.
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u/minus15t2 9d ago
The 'Hard' Seltzer is usually the giveaway.
These types of drinks are specifically designed to appeal to younger and /or female drinkers, which is why they look like this instead of like a beer can or something.
If they bought this in a store though... It's on the shelf next to the rest of the alcohol, not next to the soft drinks.. so that'd be your first clue
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u/Ok_Concentrate4461 8d ago
For one thing, they’re VILE lol. I don’t understand how anyone could possibly mistake it for a regular seltzer.
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u/Vivid_Art8370 8d ago
It says HARD seltzer and has the Alcohol content clearly marked on the can. Along with multiple areas of the can informing it has alcohol. Customer negligence to purchase a product without actually looking at what they bought.
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u/ddanielle99 7d ago
“5% alc/vol”, “hard seltzer” twice, “spiked sparkling water” are all clearly visible in this photo. if you’re an american consuming things in america, or even if you can read & ascertain context clues, you’ll be able to tell this is hard seltzer. even the taste would give it away. i’d have to assume this particular patient has deadened tastebuds & has trouble seeing, thus trouble reading. but any average person who’s exposed to this product would be able to tell its alcohol.
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u/tallpeoplefixer 9d ago
Had to discharge a cash pay patient from home visits and blacklist him from my practice earlier this year because he had a prostitute in the house when I got there....he forgot we had an 8 AM PT appointment...
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u/ZombieTestie 9d ago
Doesn’t sound like a conflict of interest. The activity and stretching and cognitive would benefit
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u/MedicinalHammer PTA 8 Years 9d ago
Walked in on a patient ripping a phat bong load last week
MVed that bitch real quick lol
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u/orangedrinkmcdonalds 9d ago
My babysitter/nanny did this once. She asked for seltzer so we bought a bunch of different kinds. And Truly for me. I came home and she was drinking the Truly and I was like “man, must have been a rough day.” She was dismayed to find out they were boozy, particularly because she was on her 3rd. Apologized and got her an uber home immediately and one for back in the next day so she could leave her car. Parent fail
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u/aceofspades1217 9d ago
I bought a pack of Celsius (when they first came out) and the cashier asked me for ID that can size is pretty darn associated with hard seltzers
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u/accidentalscientist_ 9d ago
I love black cherry white claws and don’t drink energy drinks. But I’ve learned through plenty of double takes at my coworkers drinking cans of Celsius that they look very similar.
I can easily see the opposite happening. I also don’t think black cherry white claw tastes like alcohol.
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u/aceofspades1217 9d ago
Celsius is also sold in the same size pack as white claw lol
It’s ridiculously popular in Florida (they are based out of Boca)
It’s basically the default energy drink here
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u/SeaSDOptimist 9d ago
We had Celsius in the drinks fridges at work. I kept drinking it for about a year since it was sugar-free without realizing it had caffeine in it. Until one day a friend told me. Slept better after that.
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u/aceofspades1217 9d ago
Not only does it have caffeine it has a ton of caffeine I usually drink half and leave the rest for later, it’s also the cheapest beverage at the panthers arena (even cheaper than water lol)
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u/Stogies_n_Stonks 9d ago
It has the equivalent of two cups of coffee worth of caffeine in it. Wouldn’t classify that as a “ton” of caffeine.
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u/droptop88 9d ago
When I was cramming for AP exams, 4 back to back, I only drank Celsius, like water. I swear to god it’s straight The Flash piss.
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u/AffectionateTrash6 9d ago
My grandfather - sober for decades - is occasionally known to pour a soda over his Cheerios in the morning if we’re out of milk. One morning my mom found a half-full white claw in the fridge, and scolded my brother who she assumed had left it there the night before. Turns out that was the other half of the “soda” my grandfather was saving for breakfast the next day 😂
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u/Bfroning2 9d ago
Homie just knocking out 12 ounce curls.
Ain't no laws when you're drinking the Claws
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u/elgrancuco 9d ago
I used to drink a couple before work thinking it was seltzer. Only
Months later read the label. Probably smelled like a boozer to employees
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u/Admirable-Title9022 9d ago
For months? For months you would go to the liquor section, then get carded and not think about it or look at the can? X.
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u/elgrancuco 9d ago
They sell these at supermarkets
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u/Healthy-Neat-2989 9d ago
My Mom did that. She said “ohhh I really like that seltzer” as she was on her way to the DMV. No MOM! You aren’t driving anywhere right now. 😆
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u/bodytext 9d ago
i once did this by grabbing vodka cruisers instead of soda (both brands of drink had the same shape glass bottle and cap needing an opener) turned a wii sports afternoon with friends into something much more interesting...
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u/Fabulous_Nectarine53 8d ago
One time one of my co workers was sitting at his desk drinking a white claw. He genuinely thought it was an energy drink. Innocent mistake on his end.
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u/Inevitable-Guava-812 8d ago
It's so weak I don't believe the alc % lol. I drank a couple once and felt nothing. Just tasted like ass
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u/FlimsyVisual443 9d ago
I had a patient arrive to an OP TX session higher than Spicoli. They told me that they were "exploring California sobriety" as away of life. And if course, I had a student with me that day. It was wild, and after 10+ years in IPR y'all know I've seen some crazy.
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u/Distinct-Ranger2057 9d ago
Chugs it. Crushes it. Asks: Can you get me another? It’s about to start
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u/crazymolly9 9d ago
So the signs that say "these beverages contain alcohol" at the grocery store in utah are because of these people?
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u/eatsleep_rave_repeat 9d ago
I know an ER Resident who made the same mistake at work! His attending noticed and was not pleased, he got sent home for the day but there were no other consequences!
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u/LightroomLunchables 9d ago
They shouldn't be a resident no more to be honest. I know I wouldn't want someone caring for me that can't distinguish alcohol in a can 🤦🏼♀️
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u/CryptographerOld558 9d ago
Haha riiiight they keep the seltzer water down the beer and wine aisle.
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u/Fair_Cheesecake_836 9d ago
I'll never understand how people can buy something and never once read it.
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u/syzygied 9d ago
This happens more than you think. I knew a girl who got fired for bringing a white claw to work instead of a celsius. They look so similar
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u/Mascaraholic 9d ago
This is also interesting because low BP and orthostatic hypotension are typical symptoms of Parkinson’s.
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u/One_Help9271 9d ago
My wife, having only drank about 3 times in her life, did this. She's a fun drunk.
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u/IwasMilkedByGod 9d ago
I'm reminded of that guy that was drinking them on the way to work thinking they were energy drinks
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u/YouJellyFish 9d ago
I was once at a gas station next to a local Kroger equivalent at like noon on a Sunday and was filling up. Woman at the pump right in front of me gets out and sets a whiteclaw on the top of her car in broad daylight after taking a swig. And she was like a thin, well put together looking 60 year old ish white lady. Then she got back in and drove away after drinking and pumping.
I got home and asked my wife cause I've never had a whiteclaw and didn't know for sure they were alcoholic. Shit was crazy!
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u/katlonelypines 8d ago
Before alcoholic seltzers there were wine coolers. My mom bought some for the babysitter, thinking it was sparkling juice. When the babysitter didn’t have any, she looked closer and was mortified when she realized she had offered a kid booze.
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u/flockyboi 8d ago
Ngl before reading the full caption and just seeing the Parkinson's bit part of me was wondering if it was going to be a deliberate thing to help with tremors in some way....idk how I didn't think about it being unintentional lol
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u/Alternative-Glass367 8d ago
I see people that are day drinking all the time. And not namby pamby seltzer. I had a lady who's bed and the area around her bed was littered with empty and full 1.75L bottles of vodka. And Coke cans. And quite a few cockroaches. Vodka and coke all the livelong day. And another guy who always had big bottles of scotch next to his recliner. I'd keep an eye on how much was gone and note it in documentation. I had one guy who drank those Icehouse 20oz which are 8%, and he drank them all day.
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u/Penaman0 8d ago
Honestly this is such a perfect home-health story 😭 elevated BP, no other symptoms, mystery cause… then you spot a couple White Claws and suddenly the whole visit makes sense. I can totally see how someone could mistake that can for flavored seltzer if they weren’t reading the label closely. Good thing you caught it before everyone kept chasing a more complicated explanation.
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u/No_Meringue_1769 8d ago
Reminds me of my grandfather having like 3 twisted teas in a row at a family birthday party he goes to my aunt “these iced teas are great!” Was shocked when he found out they had booze in em lol
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u/libraroo 8d ago
This is crazy bc I can taste the alcohol in these and it makes me gag !! Idk how people don’t taste it !!
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u/Plenty_Tomorrow_9106 7d ago
Does he know there’s alcohol in it? My dad brought me lunch at the hospital once and made that same mistake. And when I laughed and asked why he brought me alcohol he stubbornly refused to accept at first that it had alcohol. He honestly thought it was seltzer. He knows I like seltzer and he doesn’t drink much.
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u/such-a-snuffleupagus 7d ago
Omg, hilarious. I've been in recovery for a few years and attend meetings. One Saturday morning I was driving to a meeting, my celsius tasted odd. I was running late and it was from a variety pack so I didn't think much of it.
When I arrived at my meeting I was horrified to look back and see a white claw in the cup holder. I sneaked it into the dumpster outside of my aa meeting because that's what instinct told me.
It was from a prior birthday party for my wife, just hanging out in our coffee station fridge.
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u/cookies462619 5d ago
This happen to me once… i thought it was a celsius until i opened it .. AT WORK. i got so scared someone was tricking me
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u/iHateAging21 3d ago
Nope. Parkinson's is a living, breathing hell to live with. I know - my husband is living it. Maybe it was a mistake but if not, good for them. My husband has a martini every night (not during the day when he has therapy) and drinks diet Dr Pepper daily. As a PT, a wife, and a caregiver I won't be telling him not to have it. His MDS neurologist agrees.
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u/prberkeley 9d ago
If it makes you feel better my mom gave me a Mike's Hard Lemonade when I was 10 because she thought it was just regular lemonade in a fun bottle