For anyone thinking of stopping or cutting down · Adults 18+
Thinking of stopping drinking? Read this first.
Wanting to stop is a good thing. If your body has come to depend on alcohol, how you stop matters, and you can get help to do it safely.
The short version: the NHS warns that "it can be very dangerous to stop drinking suddenly if you're dependent on alcohol". If you get withdrawal symptoms when you stop or cut down, get medical help before you try to stop.
Signs your body may depend on alcohol
According to the NHS, withdrawal symptoms usually begin within 6 to 12 hours of the last drink, and typically last 3 to 7 days. They can include:
- CommonAnxiety, difficulty sleeping, nausea and vomiting.
- Also commonA racing heartbeat, sweating and shaking.
- SeriousHallucinations, confusion and seizures.
If mornings bring the shakes or a sweat that a drink settles, take that seriously and talk to someone before you stop.
Call 999 or go to A&E if
Someone has severe withdrawal symptoms, such as visible shaking, unusual restlessness or upset, confusion, hallucinations or a seizure. Don't drive yourself. Take any medicines you're on with you.
Who can help you stop
- A GPThey'll ask about your drinking and how it's affecting you, and may use a questionnaire or blood tests. They can arrange medical help with withdrawal, at home or in hospital, as well as talking therapy.
- Your local alcohol serviceSee how to get help in the UK. You don't always need to see a GP first.
- A helplineEngland: Drinkline 0300 123 1110. Scotland: Drinkline 0800 7314 314. Wales: DAN 24/7 0808 808 2234. More on the UK helplines page.
If you don't get withdrawal symptoms
You may still find it easier with support. These can help:
- Tell one personSomeone who will ask how it's going.
- Clear the houseDon't keep alcohol where you'll see it on a bad evening.
- Plan your usual drinking timesDecide what you'll do at those hours, and with whom.
- Have your urge plan readySee how to get through a craving.
Supporting someone else?
Please don't push someone who may be dependent to stop overnight. Encourage them to talk to a GP or a helpline first. You can call those helplines yourself as well. See how to talk to someone about their drinking.
Where the facts come from
Service details checked against these pages on 4 November 2026. Tell us if something has changed.
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If you need help now
From Chris Nugent, Quiet Strength Recovery. This comes from lived experience of addiction and recovery. How these guides are checked.
For adults 18+. Peer support and education from lived experience. Not medical treatment, and not a replacement for professional or emergency help. Outside the UK, use your local emergency number.