For me, having hobbies that don't often include drinking seems to help. I play board games, go to book discussions, writer's groups, attend hack nights, go see

For me, having hobbies that don't often include drinking seems to help. I play board games, go to book discussions, writer's groups, attend hack nights, go see a movie, go out hiking with people. Depending on the group, there could be alcohol involved, but usually there isn't, in my experience (or just one or two people will drink, and only a glass or two). For me it very much depends on who I'm with. I once dated a girl that loved to get wasted on alcohol on dates, and I liked her so I drank a lot with her myself. The current woman I'm dating gets sick if she drinks alcohol, so I pretty much only drink a drink here or there when I meet up with her family or I'm out with certain friends. I easily go six months without a drink now, and usually not much more than a couple of drinks a month. If I drink too much my next day is completely unproductive, and I hate that, so that also helps to keep me from drinking too much also.