AlericB

I agree. Happiness is an elusive quality and I think is always more than just emotion. Perhaps we can say that we are happier in sobriety if, overall, we prefer our new life to our previous life and wouldn't swap what we now have with a life of drinking again. As you say, many changes come about such as temporary loneliness if we lose old drinking friends and have yet to find new friends. But for me anyway it is important to keep the expectation of increased happiness to mind. I have no interest whatsoever in quitting and not being happier and I just don't see that as AV.