It is possible to stop, but you have to be so vigilant against the creep of alcoholism. It is always easy to just have one and then justify the next 10.
They only way to stop is not to pick up in the first case. I have to continually ask myself what else do I need to loose before I give it up.
It does not happen overnight, but one day at a time. I would say that the more people you meet who are also sober the easier it is to pick up the phone rather than a drink. I love SR. and Aa for exactly those reasons.