It is a hard thing to stop - I know I watched my mum try countless times b4 she finally suceeded in stopping. She has been sober for over 3 years now.
Dont give up on AA too quickly - my mum did the very thing u were on about in the beginning too but it was thru AA tht she finally suceeded. She doesn't go to every meeting now but she goes along to the conventions.
Just let ur ex know tht u r there for him and tht u will support him and tht time doesn't matter (coz it can take time no matter how much u wanna give up)
Also just b aware there may be other things like depression which could b the underlying reason for his drinking coz u can do all u can to help him stop drinking but if u don't do something about the underlying problem then there is always a risk of him relapsing.
Toni xx
"I've woken now to find myself, In the shadows of all I have created, I'm longing to be lost in you, Wont you take me away from me." (evanescence "away from me")
"It rips your heart out and leaves you bleeding with a smile on your face." (HIM "and love said no")
"Happy hunting you double faced carnivore" (Nightwish "Romanticide"