I've been sober since 5th March 2014, when I would have been 41. I had unsuccessfully tried 'moderation' for a few years before that, and even had a few one-month abstinence periods (for charity - I mean, if people actually pay money for you to stay sober, that must say something hey!). Mostly though I have surrounded myself with mostly other heavy drinkers (undeclared alcoholics?!) and thereby convinced myself that my drinking was 'Normal' (with a capital 'N').