lostmyway good deal, for me I found the more honest and open I was, the more strength I was given by my HP to stay sober.
It still amazes me how powerful it is to simply say "No thanks" when offered a drink, I find it even more empowering when some one needs to know why and tries to get me to have one any how, I shut them down entirely with the TRUTH, I tell them "I quit drinking because I am an alcoholic."
The only people I have ever had try to get me to have a drink after me telling them I am an alcoholic, is a fellow alcholic who still lives in denial of their alcoholism and hopes that they can justify their own drinking by having every one they can join them in thier drinking.