Good point. There is definitely a difference. For me, not drinking was really tough. But sobriety is pretty easy. I don't obsess about alcohol now.
Not drinking is all in your head. Sobriety is in your heart, mind and soul. Sobriety for me took sr, plus face to face interactions with sober people. It took a full life shift. But it's benefitted me so much, I would do it over again.
You can do it too.