I think honesty is important. You stop and when confronted or asked your response should be that your health is important and you never realized how bad alcohol is on the body. I don't think that explaining further is important. I too am struggling with how to tell some of my friends that I'm not drinking anymore but it's not the point of not drinking but looking less or in your words one with the disease but that's ok WE ALL DONT WEAR ARMOR, we all have issues and I'm sure your family and friends will be there to help you