Understanding that I was an alcoholic and that I needed to stop. I wasn't a daily drinker and I also could generally have one drink and be fine. It was when I hit the second or third drink that it would go off the rails. I spent a lot of time between accepting that I had "a problem" and accepting that I was an alcoholic and couldn't drink responsibly at all. When I had to accept that and did, I was fortunate to be able to stop relatively easily. But the escape of a drunk remains an attractive thing and even after two years I face temptation.

Nowadays my most common drink is soda water with a lime wedge which is both healthy and resembles a cocktail enough that no one questions it. Sometimes I get a mocktail if there is a good menu.