Alcoholism is centered on instant gratification. We don't think too far ahead.
Also, I think that the "liquor store run" was part of the fix. Don't you all agree? Something about picking out your bottle for the day, looking at the options, and going home with the bottle in your bag....it was all part of the routine, the habit, the addiction. The clinking of the ice in the glass, the weight of the bottle in your hand, settling into your "drinking position" on the couch or chair. It's all part of the cycle of addiction. That's why this habit is so hard to break, there are a lot of moving parts and it's not as simple as just 'not drinking'. Some might argue that's the easy part!