ahh okay I understand.

He could also use a sponsor, someone to call when he's feeling tempting to drink.

Boozin, it may not be a good idea for you to quit cold turkey. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol, then not getting alcohol can actually be dangerous. You should consult with a doctor to see if you need to be weaned off or what you call it, reduce consumption over time until you've quit.

Also make sure you get vitamins like vitamin Bs in you. Alcohol helps flush these vitamins out of your body and that can cause problems for example in your central nervous system and that is quite serious. People who are fond of their brain functions should not be alcoholics.

Great advice lisnaholic. I don't think trying to go told turkey and quit drinking so suddenly is a good idea and I don't think it would be succesful.

It's not distracting, it's getting control over it ;).

Are you ****ing kidding me? Getting "control" over the habit by drinking less? When he already knows he has a serious problem and really needs to quit? What kind of ****ing logic is that? hip hop bunny hop's advice is good because exercise gives you endorphins, which will help him to stay positive in this long, hard road. It WILL give him self confidence and make him feel good about himself, how good is he going to feel if he just succumbs to another ****ing habit?! Jesus christ what the **** is wrong with you people that you endorse such ideas!

If you wanna stop drinking, drink 3 bottles of scotch in one sitting.

After I did that, man, even the smell of rubbing alcohol on cuts makes me retch now.

I'm pretty sure it would actually work for me.

Well he's not you, and you are not him. You don't have an addiction to booze, so how can you empathise?

It seemed like a plausible method to me.
I mean, I'm sure you have a lot more experience than I do, but I think it would really work. Why else would I say so?
Apparently it doesn't. Well okay.

Exercising isn't another habit to you?

It can be with his addictive personality, sure it has positive benefits but that's why I stated it's only a temporarily solution. Lesser of two evils until he gets control of his addictive characteristics