I honestly don't think it will ever be easy for me to be around hard liquor drinkers. Beer & wine don't bug me, but if I sit within 30 feet of a bar, I'm studying the bottles. And the smell of a familiar drink sets me right off with the head games. Head games start seemingly insignificant, but if the thinking gets reinforced by fantasies or by more exposure, it's easy trouble.
Avoiding people, places & things that make you want to drink is always a good idea.