Accept the fact that you will not be able to hang with your drinking buddies, like you used to do. If you think you can, you can not be serious about changing.
That is a very good point. Not only might you need to change friends, but you might need to change a lot of the environment that you are used to hanging around in that triggers memories of your behavior.
In my case, after quitting, I was amazed at the amount of time it created. Not feeling bad and also not having to spend the time drinking gave me a TON of time. Find hobbies and other interests and FILL THE TIME. AA is one good time-filler, find some others as well. Pick up a new hobby and get into it. Volunteer for the Fred Thompson campaign! whatever, remember the line about idle hands and the devil?