I know a little bit about this shit. It's hard to stop because everyone around you can enjoys a beer or two responsibly, every faggot hipster is talking about this new craft beer that's only made once a year and you have to try just one. Everyone calling it a goddamned journey, not a lifestyle. You wake up hungover and you've ruined a friendship with your best friend, you're never drinking again, but there's still that bottle with 3 shots left in it, just enough to get rid of this headache...
You want to quit, you know you have to but it's a habit, get home from work and you've earned that ice cold beer.
One day it just hits you. I'm either going to be dead or in jail. Friends, family, coworkers have said it so many times, you don't care. It has to click in your head. Once you quit, then you need friends and family for support.
For me the big thing was putting together a streak of sober days. You don't want to waste these first 14 days you've been sober right? Fuck, it'll take you so long to put another streak like that together. 2 years 1 month and 25 days and damn near each one of them would have been ok to just grab a 6pk to chill out with, maybe a beer with that pizza or steak.
PS Thanks to the ones who stuck with me until it clicked in my head. You know who you are. I'm really fortunate to have some true friends.