I like to think of it in terms of time frame. The lure of a drink is in the short term time frame. The short term might be only for several minutes, when my thinking can tell me that alcohol may make me “feel” “better”. Perhaps this is only to relieve withdrawal symptoms, but let’s be honest, most of us drank because of alcohols effect.
The problems, from that drink, come in the long(er) term time frame. So the battle becomes one between the time frames. Generally, (with the exception of detoxing) the farther from the last drink that you get, the easier it is to make the better choice. A “program” like AA helps me cope with “life”, and has made this day to day, (sometimes moment to moment) choice not to drink, just that much easier.