Good luck with your lifestyle changes @positiveninja2 I look forward to hearing how you are getting on.
I stopped drinking alcohol about 4 months ago for similar reasons to those you describe. I wasn't ever a huge drinker but the evidence is building on the negative impacts alcohol has, and I don't want to be taking the risk any more. The only downside I've found is the reaction other people have to me not drinking.
I completely understand @mandysimpson. It's now been close to 5 years since I've had a drink, but in ANZ it seems to be revered... I wrote a post on it being Unaustralian to not drink
The main time I miss a drink is when my wife is having a nice red on holidays...
Thats a great post. Thanks for pointing me towards it. 5 years is a good long time. Congrats to you for taking and sticking to that path.