Originally Posted by
Maudcat 
More will be revealed in time, Jek.
Your true friends will accept your decision and support you.
Drinking friends will fall away.
Don’t despair. New friends await.
This has proven true in my case. Add family, some accept, some perhaps to be avoided. I don't say anything and just attend and carry ice water. I find people absolutely respect my decision not to drink and are often compelled to tell me about their own habits for better or worse. No judgement here.