I can so relate to your experience even though it did not involve the stopping of drinking.My experience was around being ridiculed and attacked 
for not taking up smoking.

This was back in the day when TV ads were showing a man in a white coat 
pretending to be a doctor extolling the virtues and health benefits of smoking, and audaciously claiming to represent the recommendations of 2 out of 3 doctors.And 99 people out of 100 were die-hard smokers and smoking was even allowed in elevators.
No I am not making that up.

An observation I made having been up close and personal 
as well as collateral damage to alcoholics is this.

The reason the recidivism rate for all addicts is so high 
is because their social circle is other addicts.

When you decide to go clean you lose your social circle, your friends, your support system. Of course it was a support system 
which supported your addiction, but still it has to be replaced 
and that is not easy.

Kudos to you for being so courageous as to take that course.
I still do not smoke.
Just imagine all the money I have saved :-))
Funny story.
It was a cold and blustery December winter day 
when your car windows are sealed tight against the weather.

I pick up a 2 pack a day friend to take him to an appointment.
He gets into the car and is outraged.

He said “ I thought that you did not allow anyone to smoke in your car, and I can smell smoke “
I said “ Yes, no one has ever, nor will ever, smoke in this car, that smoke smell is coming from you, that is how you smell, your clothes and your skin are imbued with it.” He was dumfounded.
Sadly it did not make his stop.