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Rising Star
Wherever you go, there you are. And your problems will likely follow if you don't deal with them. I moved during one of my earlier periods of sobriety (before AA) to "get away" and ended up relapsing. It wasn't the place, it was me.
Pro
People,places, and things aren't problem, my reaction to them is. I find that my sobriety is best/happiest when I focus on what I need to be doing rather than what the people around me are doing.
I've moved lomg distance a couple of times while trying to get sober. The first time I moved, I felt released from all accountability, and my drinking accelerated well beyond my control. The second move happened several years into active sobriety, and again, lack of accountability helped me to feel like I was ok to back off meetings (they didn't do AA right anyway) and working with a sponsor. I didn't drink, but I did lose my dream job and was genuinely threatened with divorce and moving out with the kids twice.
We moved a third time, and losing my job rocked my ego so badly that I was willing to give AA another try and jumped back in with both feet. I have a new AA family, God graced me with a better job (something I couldn't have dreamed up), my kids adore me agsin, and myarriage is on the mend.
Quality sobriety is found where you look and work for it.
I didn’t but my bf says it was crucial for his recovery. You have to change your playground, playmates and playthings and for him getting out of that environment was helpful
My best friend moved from Boston (heavy drinking city) to a small town in Wisconsin in her second year of sobriety. She enjoys it and says it's easier to stay sober there. But, she is planning on moving back to the city in the next year or so. She thinks it would have been more impactful earlier on in her sobriety.
Pro
As others have alluded to, true, long lasting sobriety needs to come from within, not by playing with external factors such as a move in the hopes it will give you what you need. I spent my first year getting sober in one area, moved 90 miles away (after my marriage broke up), then moved to another city/state. Been sober 20 months. So far my sobriety has felt good and solid, but with each move I knew I couldn't be complacent: going to more meetings, not fewer, to build local fellowship back up each time, reading AA literature more, not less each time. Basically making sure with each move I didn't get complacent and look for ways to "coast". This has worked for me, because it has been for and about me: I had zero expectations that a new place would magically make sobriety simpler or easier. The program works if you work it.
Pro
Another thing to consider is that moving away may rob you of the opportunity to make some amends that would strengthen your sobriety. You can run away from people, but you can't hide from the person that you became when drinking.
I would caution against moving solely for the purpose of "better" sobriety, though if there is a genuine better opportunity in front of you that happens to be somewhere else, then double down on workong on your sobriety, and take youe aponsor and higher power along for the ride.
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This is a “it depends”.
Moving too soon can be risky, if you have an established AA group. Lots of people move, procrastinate finding a new home group and or sponsor, and are then in a very dangerous spot.
Like others have said, sometimes we need space between our “bad influences”, like bars and drinking buddies.
I moved after having 3 or 4 years of sobriety, but I did it with a solid AA plan for my new city.
I did but I will say it really doesn't matter where you go. There are always going to be temptations around you. I am happy I moved because my family was a big stresser in my life so creating some distance has rally helped me.