Hey Whoops, how are you now?
I think it's harder to give up when you have smaller children at home, unless you can find an alcohol-free activity, which they can join in with. When you're just getting through the day and waiting for the acceptable time to pour your first drink, it's nigh on impossible to summon up the willpower- if you're the type that finds alcohol difficult to resist (I do).
I have a darkest hour, where I caught sight of myself looking bloated and unhappy, stuffing my face to soak up the wine... on my own. I was 3 sizes larger than I am now- and I do still drink, but I won't during the week anymore, unless I'm out, having dinner somewhere nice.
The biggest help to me has been taking up exercise. I have to work towards a goal- something sponsored so I'd be letting people down if I dropped out.
I also bought a really good bike on 0% finance. That's £50 a month which I won't allow myself to spend on wine. Thing is, I want to be up and fit to ride at weekends, so that's a big incentive too.
Of course, as I said, it's much easier to take off for a run, a ride, or a class now that my children are older.
I think it's a question of working out a personal plan of avoidance until the worst of the nightly cravings have subsided.