instead of making excuses why not get honest with them? them friends just might find activities that don't involve alcohol.
no everything doesn't involve alcohol. just everything you used to do.
why not suggesting something to your friends to do that don't involve alcohol?
nothing has happened to the world. what has happened is you decided to be fearful of what your friends would say if you said you quit drinking and make excuses,imo.
put yerself in their shoes. wouldn't you stop calling someone that keeps having an excuse to go out?