I think there are a lot of strategies to this but "cutting back" has never worked for me. There was a time that I would limit myself to only 4 or something like that but then someone fun comes along and I'll be like "ok, just a couple more." Next thing I know it is midnight and I am smashed. I don't have self control like that in relation to drinking and just like when I stopped smoking cigarettes, there was no such thing as cutting back. I had to cut it out.

Perhaps in the future I can return to being sensible at the pub but for now at least, I think avoidance is my only option that has a guaranteed success.