Hi everyone. I have been appreciating the many messages and finally came up with something to say. I want to share the stingy athlete mental technique I have been using.
(1) Stingy: drinking is expensive, especially when you have developed expensive tastes. I am too stingy to pay all that!
(2) Athlete: exercise regulates mood far better than alcohol, especially if you have tendencies to anxiety and depression. And at my age (mid-50s) it is goofy to try to progress as an athlete while drinking.
Note: However, I used to rationalize "I'm healthy from exercise so drinking is not a problem."
Anyway, I just wanted to share the "stingy athlete" technique which is working for me as a AV-stopper. Thanks again for the many messages.