Hi Angelus - If this is really a good friend, I could understand why they might want to "protect" you.......... why not talk to them so that next time they're in town, you can get together for lunch/dinner......
We have to let people know what we're comfortable with. I don't think there's any reason to be cut off from friends who still drink unless that's all they want to do. In early sobriety I didn't feel strong enough to be around friends who were drinking, but it doesn't bother me now. I just don't hang around if people start getting drunk - when the IQ level starts to drop and people are laughing at stupid stuff, it's just not entertaining anymore.
(Because I'm older, though, most people I know don't get wasted anyway).....