Hi... I was hesitant to post because I know that a male is generally viewed askance on here.
I was a heavy drinker until December 2014, when I gave it up after the company Christmas party. I hated my relationship with alcohol, how I couldn't resist having one, and after one I couldn't resist another five.
I travel a lot with work (which generally means access to business lounges), and I boarded many a flight having carefully and hastily got myself drunk on the free booze, simply because it was there and I could help myself.
When out in bars with friends I used to worry about how much I was drinking, and watch the level in my friends' glasses, internally urging them to hurry up so that we could get another round without me feeling like a big drinker compared to them.
Also, my father died a couple of years ago. At age 67, he was a functioning alcoholic, and had destroyed many an important relationship through being a right dick when he was drunk and being drunk almost every night. That was the big catalyst for me stopping.
In the early days I actually found it really helpful to tell people why I wasn't drinking, and tell them about my father and my discomfort with my drinking. I found it helped because it burnt my bridges, so to speak - I knew that if they saw me drinking in the future that I'd feel ashamed, weak and pathetic. I suppose it was a good external dose of willpower.
On the whole I found people really supportive, especially the heavy drinkers - most of them said "well done" when I told them, which was good of them.
Also, I was already lurking on your threads before I quit, and have been since. Even though not part of the conversation I really identified with your stories, and it helped me feel not alone and to know that I could do it because so many of you did. Thanks 