Alcohol substitute…phasing out drinking?

Don’t know where to ask this, as obviously this thread is fairly pro-alcohol. I have been drinking for…years. About 5 years ago, I realized I couldn’t really get drunk like I used to. I more just get tired. Now, not only will I get tired, but sometimes I get fairly depressed, pretty instantaneously.

I used to be someone who really liked to “party” (mostly just with alcohol). As pathetic as it sounds, I feel like not drinking is a partial loss of my identity. Yes, I like exercising and gardening, but that’s not what I want to do on a Friday night. I feel old and boring. What do I do to unwind on the weekend, particularly at night, in a social environment? I like ingesting something and feeling the effects of that thing, while hanging out. I don’t want to start doing hard drugs. Weed is okay, but also makes me sleepy.

Any other ideas or anyone else know what I’m going through? Am I just doomed to knitting circles and early bed times?