Thanks for the welcome
I've never tried actively to quit before, no.
I did have a two month period where I was on medication and was told not to drink.
I tried for a while to try to trick myself by drinking non alcoholic beers and wines but it only lasted about two weeks.
Everyone else was drinking and I missed the buzz.
Absolutely spot on regarding it creeping up on you. It's just one of those things that start off as normal and then suddenly blam, it's constant state of drinking and thinking that's fine.