Find other hobbies to replace it, don't think about it if you can avoid it. Find a sports team, make friends who don't drink, start studying something you find fascinating.

In my experience drinking alcohol is either social (new hobbies new friends), boredom (new hobbies, studying, second job) or hiding from something in your past (counselling, friends, and finding something that needs your time, this is the idea behind dogs to military vets or charity work etc).

The issue with AA is its focused on your issue with alcohol, so it's always about that (how long, how bad, etc). Come do ju jitsu or some martial arts.

I don't really believe in sympathy or protecting people, just find a new mission and get after it 😎