<?php
// add to function.php
function acf_field_only_published_posts($query) {
$query->set('post_status', 'publish');
}
?>
if (get_field('alternative_method')) {
// add filter to only get published posts
add_action('pre_get_posts', 'acf_field_only_published_posts');
// get field
$alt_posts = get_field('alternative_method');
// remove the filter so it does not affect other queries
remove_filter('pre_get_posts', 'acf_field_only_published_posts');
if (!empty($alt_posts)) {
// the rest of code to output section here
} // end if !empty($alt_posts)
} // end if get_field('alternative_method')
