I know that drinking alcohol is not allowed in Islam, and I try my best to stay away from it. However, some of my friends drink alcohol, and although they are good people, I feel bad about being around them when they are drinking. How can I maintain our friendship but stay away from the alcohol-friendly environment?

Firstly, I would suggest that you take ownership of your time. Always have something to occupy yourself with during the times when they go drinking. Remember that you want to be the friend that leads, and not the friend who follows. You should be confident in your own morals and beliefs.  If you feel that you are the kind of person who can get influenced easily, then it’s best to make a difficult decision and start finding more like-minded friends with the same values as you.