I know that I’m powerless over alcohol, and maybe that’s why I don’t understand the “drinking in moderation” mantra. I have friends who have a beer with a nice steak in a restaurant and that’s it. I look at their fancy micro brew and order a diet coke. If I have a beer or two with a nice dinner, I would want to continue drinking when I get home, that’s the problem. Moderation is not skill I (or I suspect most) alcoholics have.