It's not uncommon for someone who quits smoking or drinking to find that they lose a few friends, because they have lost a common ground. I haven't had a drink in 12 and a half years, but I didn't have any drinking buddies. My reason for quitting drinking was health related but not in the way you might think. I don't like beer, and it has gluten in it, and the fructose from wine or cider gives me diarrhoea, so I had to quit. I have been happier without it.