I might be able to offer a little perspective here as an ex drunk/problem drinker.
I've been sober for a little over 6 months now and while I feel so amazing and grateful for my new lifestyle, it is weird to be around drinking situations or around people who are drinking. Not so much because I feel excluded or that I think I'm being deprived of something, especially after experiencing the hell that drinking did to me, but because it's the notion of being in close proximity to something that can kill you. The best analogy I can think of is being out on a hike and coming across a rock face or a cliff where there is a sudden and drastic drop off... now imagine you're right on the edge. One wrong move and you're dead. That's how it feels for me to be around the stuff even now that I'm on path of recovery. It's a very uncomfortable feeling and since most people don't know how to act around an ex drinker, it can lead to some unpleasant social faux pas's. (Example: When I'm asked by people to grab them a beer out of the fridge...)
So any efforts you can make to keep things comfortable for him at home during the initial stages of recovery will go a long way. He does need to take ownership and accept that he needs to STOP drinking, not slow down. If he tries to moderate his drinking, he will fail and fall deeper into the abyss.