Italy?

Sodium Oxybate (ie: incredibly expensive GHB) is on the market elsewhere, but not indicated for alcohol abuse and usually heavily controlled (ie: special doctors and pharmacies only).

The heavy control always surprised me while other powerful sedatives flow freely with little control.

GHB is orders of magnitude more dangerous than other sedatives, with less medical uses.

Why in the world would you tempt yourself like that?

I obviously cant speak for the OP, but theres something to be said for putting yourself in a situation that requires discipline and resistance of temptation (though you're absolutely correct, in this case, most certainly not a good idea for everyone). Completely tangential, but I've come to think of Gandhi's celibacy tests with naked women in this way.

You see temptation, I see “a reminder”. Speaking as someone who has beaten an addiction of my own and did something similar.

4 years. Nary a single relapse to speak of.

It’s not for everyone, no. But that’s okay. Few things are.

I can't speak on alcohol and think any alcohol addiction is more difficult to quit, but: I quit smoking and nicotine a year and a half ago. I still have ecigs about: I kept them in case I just couldn't. Just in case. For peace of mind. I never really saw it as temptation. I don't mind getting rid of them now, mind you, I'm just lazy and they are stored away.

Addiction is all about control... either it controls us or we (think) we control it. It's a perverse feedback loop.

How can you know you who is in control if you don't?

I've heard of the practice before, it seems a common, if not majority practice.