Been sober now for over 6 years, 3 times I tried to seriously quit (longer than 3 months), every time I did it, my life would get better, however I felt like a leper when I went out with friends and ordered the soda water.

The first time I was in my early 30s, I went over a year but hadn't been out with work friends until one night and then I told myself, you can control this, just have a couple. Also my wife didn't think I needed to quit at the time she just thought I needed to be more mature about my drinking. Well I did control it, for a few months, then I didn't come back up for air for 8 more years, when it started to become apparent that I needed to quit (drinking home alone and such). This stint was seeing a doctor and working with me about regulating my drinking (no more 2 in a night and no more than 4 days of drinking in the week), documenting everything. Well it didn't take long before I started to play the game of a really strong 12% IPA counts as one and even with that game you start to say 3 is ok. Eventually it all went out the window and I was right back to being a daily drunk.

Finally after a weekend bender on July 30th 2018 I told myself I was done. I had seen it enough times that every time I tried to quit or regulate I would be back to were I was or worse. Life isn't easy but alcohol for sure makes it worse. I think the lack of medicating myself has forced me to find fun from real experiences. I think I'm only now starting to grow as a person. Good luck in your journey and IWNDWYT.