Hi Pricey
I guess there's a range of approaches you get here - but to me all anyone ever needs to know is that I'm not drinking.
If you feel compelled to say more, tell them you don't want to, you're doing it for health, or for your family, or that you're old enough now you don't need to follow the pack...whatever you like.
There's more than enough valid reasons without lying, or using the A word if that concerns you.
I'm not sure I like the lie approach - there's something that worries me about pretending you're still a drinker.
In the end, Pricey you have to decide whats more important - what you think or what other people think?
D