I never went to AA, I forced myself to quit and set myself up for ridicule if I failed. I told my friends that I was done drinking, they didn't believe me and I set out to prove them wrong. I even carried a can of beer around with me for several months because I needed to get used to being around it without drinking. I didn't want to give up my friends along with alcohol.
It's been several years now.
Excellent! I'll bet you feel great. Getting off an addiction is tought because you think that not drinking,etc. will leave one unfulfilled, at least that was my experience. I didn't have a drinking or a drug issue, but all addiction experience is pretty much the same. Sometimes peer pressure with friends who really know you is more effective!
Thanks for telling us this info CrippleCreek,
How's that said? "But for the grace of God, Go I" as well.
Beer was one thing, but when I finally got on my own, I had to try out scotch, vodka and it would seem no one else was in any or much danger, but after imbibing some of these harder drinks, vodka namely, I knew I went the wrong way down a street once, night time and I did not know the roads and it made me believe that if I ever drank hardy amounts, I'd do it at home. Just my $.02.