I tried to hang on to my drinking friends on all of my previous attempts to live sober with AA. Unfortunately, it always led to relapse. They knew I had joined AA. 5 months was the longest I was able to string together.
I'm currently starting over for the 4th time and am 5 days sober.
Things are definitely different this time.
Previously, when my friends would text after work and ask me to go out, I WOULD, and drink non-alcoholic beverages, until I didn't.
They texted a couple of days ago and this time my response was different.
I texted: I CANNOT GO THAT BAR. I AM AN ALCOHOLIC. I AM POWERLESS OVER IT. IF I CONTINUE TO DRINK IT WILL KILL ME.
I haven't been asked again. Yet.