Making the choice to not ever drink again was like making the choice to keep an abuser out of my life for good. Taking a stand for myself. I know people can have non abusive relationships with alcohol – i see this in my boyfriend, and in a (few) others. But it absolutely does make me view the alcohol scene in a very new way. And for those drawn to abusive relationships it’s a slippery slope. What can be a casual rendezvous for someone else is an ass-kicking for me.