That you very much for this great advice. Your words about ‘trouble’ are exactly what happens to me.
Fortunately, I’ve got a great wife who is helping me now.
My sister can’t stop once she starts drinking, and controls it only by not having alcohol in the house. I did that too, but I’m out more, and have more oportunities to drink.
Someone said how hard it would be to not drink in Tokyo, and that goes double for me, since I’m a salesman. Still, must better to rearrange my life than to continue down that path.
As to the salesman aspect, I like to remind myself (and others prone to overimbibition) that we are generally much more charming when not schnockered. Evidence of this may be easily found by going out with the usual friends but sticking to a ginger ale only diet. You may indeed become the life of the party just by retaining a grasp of the situation and a fully functioning mind. I tend to switch to the ginger ales quickly myself.
Also, if you have something in your hand, people who are drinking will never notice that you aren’t drinking too. This works especially well in a “mingling” type event like a cocktail reception.