Hi Bodhi
At the end of my drinking most of my social group were alcoholics like me and we naturally drifted apart once I showed I was serious about recovery.
I did end up reconnecting with a lot of old friends then tho. I personally didn't hide my drinking problem but, with the hindsight of 15 years recovery now, I think you merely need to say 'I don't drink anymore'.
Thats it.
You may
feel as if you need to join the dots (I'm trying to have a baby, I don't enjoy drinking anymore, I want to look after my health)... but you really don't need to.
I thought everyone else took drinking as seriously as I did.
I found that, by and large, they do not.
In my experience the expectation of a explanation came from me far more than it did from anyone else.
D