Originally Posted by
zoobadger 
I'm convinced that sobriety requires a little shameless selfishness. Your need to get well - physically and emotionally - is way more important than a "friend" who enjoys drinking with you, or thinks you're not lively enough sober.
Well put. "Shameless selfishness." Our sobriety comes first, before anything or anyone else. And we need to be assertive about it, especially early on. Well, we have to be continually assertive about our "selfish" attitude, although after a few years, we don't have to make such a openly big deal about it. At that time, a simple, "No thanks. I don't drink," is enough.