This may go against the grain, but I drank for 26+ years and most of that, all but the last couple were in very social and very upscale, (for the most part), bars and clubs. I still miss after 8 years of sobriety certain wines, good single malt scotch and my old standby Canadian Club. I miss cognac after diner and all the latest and greatest new cocktails. I date women who do drink and because of business and social commitments I find myself around alcohol all the time.
DO I MISS IT? Yes, not enough to want the life back that I had towards the end. I have a degree in Economics and one of the maxims of that discipline is that: THINGS COST WHAT WE GIVE UP TO GET THEM. Simply put, I CAN’T AFFORD THE PRICE of any of the alcohol that I just mentioned. I attend AA and stay active in the fellowship so that I guard against "romancing" my past. I enjoy social situations sober; and because of that the people who are there with me enjoy them too.
My sponsor asks me periodically;
Q. Jon, do you ever WANT a drink?
A. Yes, particularly when I want to "be like the other kids."
Q. Jon, do you NEED a drink?
A. NO.
Big difference from a few years ago.
Jon