Doc, my friends tell me I am drinking too much and that is getting in my way of making good music.   I'm not ready to try stopping so what can I do to work towards better control?

This is a tough, complicated question with no easy answer that will work for everyone.  I think it is a good step that you have recognized that you have a problem and want to try a different approach.   Awareness of personal stumbling blocks is so critical to finding new ways.

First think through where your drinking is causing problems.  Some common themes among those with problems are:  **

1. Drinking after work, especially, after hard days.
2. Drinking after a stressful or emotional experience
3. Drinking beer from barrels, kegs, or pitchers
4. Drinking liquor, other than beer, from the bottle
5. Drinking during automatic or boring activities
6. Drinking during or with reward activities
7. Drinking with other heavy drinkers
8. Drinking when thirsty or hungry
9. Drinking with those who pressure you to drink faster or more
10. Drinking the usual' in the usual place

**"How to Control Your Drinking",  W.R. Miller & R. Munoz, 1982

Some simple corrective steps include:

1. Eat before and during drinking.  However, eating before drinking can only  slow the journey of alcohol into your body.
2. Drink moderately.  Set limits or yourself and hold to them.
3. Count the drinks you consume.  REALLY KNOW how much you drink at each sitting.
4. Space your drinks:  slow down your consumption.
5. Delay your drinking:  by being able to put off drinking, even if only for an hour or two, you are exerting positive control
6. Refuse drinks:  Being willing to say "No, Thanks"
7. Reinforce your success: give yourself non drinking rewards when you do cut back
8. Identify factors which influence your drinking
9. Find ways to relax without drinking
10. Practice good assertion with others
11. Experiment with other ways to handle discomfort and fears
12. Think through your sad feelings and find new ways to express them
13. Pay attention to your self talk ( your inner thoughts) and work toward positive expressions.
14. Remember you don't have to be drinking to have fun.

Give yourself a pat on the back for listening to your friends and thinking through their feedback.   Most people do control or moderate their drinking, so your goal of change will be supported by most of your friends.   Finding your new drinking style will take some effort, but all habits can be changed.

A word of caution for other readers.  Don't try controlled drinking if you are currently abstaining successfully, or lose control of your behavior every time or almost every time when you drink even moderate amounts of alcohol, or if you are or have been physically addicted to alcohol.