For me to be around drinkers and not drink
was not a big deal.
I made my living doing just that for years....
Socially it was a big deal......when I quit....I did try to
keep my drinking friends. I could go out with them
not drink.....and sit there ...
powerless to stop my yearning
for a drink. Alas....I eventually always gave in to temptation.
Then my life became ..once again....a destructive
mess of bad choices. I could not manage
to be both a drinker and reasonable.....