Today marks my 6 month soberversarry of being alcohol-free and I feel so much better for it. I really haven't found it as hard as I thought I would, but I think that's helped by the fact that the things I like to do socially now have changed. I have never been a regular out every Friday and Saturday kind of person anyway, it';s just that when I did go out I would n ot know when to stop and binge drink.
The fact I already struggle with my mental health and feeling low at times, is never going to be helped by having alcohol in my life. It's a depressant and never makes you problems go away it just makes you forget about them for a period of time. Drinking alcohol is like borrowing happiness from tomorrow, you have to pay it back at some point.
I find that when I go out now I am not really interested in pub crawls or just going to the pub as there doesn't seem a point to it. I don't mind going out socialising if we are watching a singer or there is Karaoke, but a pub isn't really the best place for non-drinker as you aren't there for the same reason as everyone else. Most people go out with the intention of getting drunk and that's not why you are there so as people start to get louder and louder and talk more rubbish, you feel less and less a part of the group. I have just found I decline more pub crawl-type events and prefer to go for meals with friends instead.
I'm looking forward to many occasions fully present and not making poor choices or waking up with beer fear.