How to "break up" with friends without hurting their feelings?


I have a friend who honors me SO much. He somewhat created an idea in his head that we are “best friends” – movielike best friends who are calling each other for hours in the evening gossiping about their crushes or whatever… I really don’t see him that way. He can talk to me and I can be a support to this person when it is needed, but I noticed that I often drink to tolerate his presence. Normally, I don’t have a desire to keep meeting him so often. When I was drinking with him, obviously, I was more friendly and maybe created this illusion that we are such good pals and that is not fair to him. I feel guilty for feeling this way, but how do I “break up” with a friend?