h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, I know this is a rather silly place to write when talking about a thing like this, but nevertheless, my problem right now is:

If I don't stop bloody drinking right now, I'll probably face serious chronic alcoholism. Yes, the easiest answer is "Don't drink," but it's not quite that easy. How can I say "Nah, I don't drink" whenever a friend calls and asks me out for a drink (which happens way too often.)
Tonight I've gone through several shots of Jack Daniels, beer and more beer, miscellaneous drinks (lots of "salmiakki"-vodka, and stuff I can't even remember anymore,) lots of cigarettes and the Invisible Pink Unicorn knows what else. I'm still standing, barely, but I'm not happy.

I've been told several times that I should see a psychologist/psychiatrist for whatnot reasons, but I've never gotten up to it just because it costs a bloody arm and a leg over here. You can easily generate a bill in the vicinity of £300 by just saying "hi" to a shrink, and my current salary isn't quite big enough to accommodate ridiculous sums of money like that.
(Yes, I know, the gov't would probably pay about £200 of that, but still, it's a lot of money.)

What the hell am I going to do?
I'm really getting concerned about my health, and since my studies start again on next Tuesday, life isn't looking too good.

Oh bugger.

Dear Jossarian.

I started out this counselling business both as a prank and as the real thing, but this is the first really serious entry I have received.
What I said on the frontpage about some educational background for giving advice is true, so I do take this serious and may be able to help you - for far less that a hundred quid! (Only the amount it costs you to go on-line.)
However, as this could turn somewhat personal and private, I suggest you to send me an e-mail with a few more details and then we can take it from there, not showing private stuff to the rest of the H2G2.
The adress is [email protected] and please put 'H2G2' or 'Jossarian'
somewhere in the headline so that I know what it is - I get a lot of mail sometimes.

If you prefer to run a talk here, we can also do that. It is your decision, but the offer on the front page stands - I'll help you if I can.

Yours - KimotoCat