Alcohol withdrawal is the result of the reduction or elimination of intake. But some people can’t go an hour without a drink. This type of excessive drinking is likely to become a health hazard. The risks of drinking alcohol vary but can be fatal. Consider that alcohol is responsible for about 88,000 deaths and many more unhealthy medical conditions.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that excessive alcohol use not only led to almost 100,000 deaths, but contributed to some 2.5 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) each year – from 2006 to 2010 – in the United States, while, in the meantime, shortening the lives of those who died as a result of drinking by some 30 years.Short-term risks related to excessive drinking range from injuries in motor vehicles and unwarranted acts of violence to risky sexual behavior and alcohol poisoning. More chronic diseases and serious damage to health can emerge over extended periods of alcohol abuse.Of particular concern, heavy drinking can also lead to liver damage and weaken other body organs including the heart and kidneys. Long-term risks from alcohol dependence can also increase the chance of heart disease, cancer, digestive disorders, and mental and social problems.People with uncontrolled or problematic drinking suffer from a health condition called alcohol use disorder. The more common name for AUD is alcoholism. Signs of alcoholism include a preoccupation with drinking; a need to consume more alcohol to gain the same effect; and continued abuse of alcohol despite problems that arise from drinking.Although the decision to stop drinking is noble and the first step toward a healthier lifestyle, the choice does not come without consequences. Besides intoxication, all people addicted to alcohol are prone to withdrawal after heavy or prolonged use and a sudden reduction in consumption.That’s because alcohol has a depressive effect on the body. Drinking slows down the nervous system and changes the way messages are sent from these organs to the brain.Over time, the nervous system and brain adapt to excessive drinking and actually become – much like the alcoholic – dependent on alcohol.When levels of alcohol are suddenly lowered or eliminated, a disruption in the conditioned chemical process in the body and brain will trigger withdrawal.Even drinkers of as few as two glasses of wine each night for many years can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop.This may feel more like a virus. More severe alcohol withdrawal is common among chronic and binge drinkers who have compulsive use or have lost control of their intake.