I think most who have a drinking problem hold on to the dream of compromise, not having all the consequences of alcohol but still being able to drink, the holy grail of moderation and drinking like a "normal" person.
For me I came to realise that it was the 1st drink that was my problem, and therein lay the real issue and subsequently led me to the solution to the problem, not having that first drink, that therefore meant Sobriety.
I really had to accept this as the way forward, a period of abstinence doesn't in some way fix or cure me, drinking again will always lead me back to the same old ways of drinking to get drunk.
Everyone needs to work out their own relationship with alcohol, but be weary of the mindset that a deal can in some way be struck with alcohol, I went round and round in circles testing that theory out, only to realise I wasted so much time and in the end the conclusion of Sobriety was still the same.