What Happens When You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

Every party, every family holiday gathering, or romantic date often revolves around alcohol. 

People drink alcohol for different purposes: 

• Some enjoy the taste for pleasure
• Other people drink it occasionally and rarely realize how habitual it has become.
• Many individuals cannot communicate or have a blast without a stiff drink.

Alcohol is impactful and often romanticized in movies, commercials, and social media—your best beverage to gather with friends or celebrate your wedding.

But stiff beverages aside from illusional mood boosts can be the reason for our health deterioration, starting from increased blood pressure to chances of having cancer. Taking a break from alcohol, reducing it, or quitting can be a paramount step in improving your mental and physical health.

Depending on how much or often a person consumes alcohol, some might need professional help to quit alcohol safely. Despite the future perks you can get from not drinking alcohol, the initial stage of abstinence may be challenging and characterized by negative symptoms.

This review will help you understand what happens when you stop drinking alcohol and when exactly you need to consider giving “spirits” a break.

When Should I Stop Drinking Alcohol?

Giving up alcohol is a big decision, especially for avid drinkers. 

Yet, excessive alcohol consumption over time can drastically worsen your life.

In this case, it’s best to consider quitting with professional help. But when exactly do you need to consider dropping alcohol consumption?

Doctors strongly advise quitting alcohol when you:

• Have tried quitting it, but cannot stay within the limits you set
• Have had alcohol use disorder (AUD) or any other symptoms
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Are taking a medication that interferes with alcohol
• Have a physical or mental health condition that is caused or exacerbated by drinking (for example, bipolar disorder, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C, chronic pain)
• Have a history of excessive alcohol use.
• Experience symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, or sexual dysfunction
• Are too young for alcohol (1).

An additional and probably not less vital reason to cut back on alcohol is if it’s negatively impacting relationships with your relatives, friends, and other people you love.

If alcohol is contributing to fights, miscommunication, or other misunderstandings, dropping it would be a step toward relationship improvement.

Research shows a link between alcohol and increased aggression and violence (2). 

That said, in many cases, alcohol could negatively impact a person’s mental state, triggering aggression and anger.

Indeed, alcohol alone is not the reason for abuse and not an excuse for adverse behavior, but in many ways, it is a trigger. Ergo, people who cut back on alcohol can enhance their quality of life and relationships with others. 

Is It Ok To Stop Drinking Immediately?

The effects of quitting alcohol fast depend on:

• How often
• How long
• How much the person consumes alcohol. 

A significant difference exists between occasionally drinking a glass of wine and having multiple daily drinks.

People with habitual drinking problems should not stop drinking immediately on their own. It’s best to contact your doctor for professional support, which can help manage the possible withdrawal symptoms.

The typical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include: 

• Tremoring hands and other parts of the body
• High blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Excessive sweating
• Upset stomach
• Hallucinations
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Delirium (3).

In conclusion, habitual and excessive alcohol drinkers can consult their doctors before quitting to reduce possible symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. 

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How Long Is Alcohol Detox?

The duration of alcohol detox may differ depending on the severity of the dependence. 

A quitting alcohol timeline starts from 6-72 hours and even longer after your last drink. How long alcohol detox takes also depends on the person’s sex, age, and how much and often they drink alcohol.

The general alcohol abstinence timeline looks as follows: 

1. The initial stage of withdrawal symptoms begins about 8 hours after the last drink.
2. After about 24-72 hours, symptoms generally start to peak.
3. After about 5-7 days, symptoms may have less intensity.
4. After the first week, specific side effects, especially psychological ones, may continue (4).

Read more: 11 Healthy Alternatives to Coffee for Energy

What Is The Hardest Day When You Quit Drinking?

The most challenging days for a person who’s just quit drinking may be the second or fourth days after your final drink.

After 48-72 hours from your last drink, these symptoms can reach their highest peak:

• Fever
• Seizures
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• High blood pressure (5)

Additionally, many people experience more prolonged withdrawal symptoms, particularly psychological ones, for example, alcohol cravings and anxiety.

Some alcohol withdrawal symptoms are dangerous, and most experts recommend using the services of special rehab centers where the staff can:

1. Treat your symptoms
2. Offer supportive care.

When anyone wants to stop drinking alcohol, there is no shame in asking for help and contacting medical support. 

How Long Until Body Fully Recovers From Alcohol?

The length of time it takes to recover fully from the effects of alcohol varies from person to person. Of course, this timeline will depend on the health conditions or effects you have from excessive alcohol consumption.

For instance, liver damage is one of the most common physical effects of chronic alcohol use. The liver can regenerate itself, but the damage may be too significant to heal with chronic heavy use (6).

The emotional and mental recovery phase may take longer as it involves addressing underlying problems and developing healthier coping mechanisms. 

This phase can include the following to help you recover:

• Therapy
• Counseling
• Support groups
• Lifestyle and habit changes

What Do 3 Weeks Without Alcohol Do To Your Body?

The benefits of not drinking alcohol for 3-4 weeks include noticeable improvements in your health. The physical withdrawal symptoms will likely subside, and you will start feeling better. You may also see a mood boost and sleep better.

However, some symptoms stick around for months after you stop drinking (7). 

• Your Heart And Metabolic Health May Get Better

Although you may experience increased blood pressure and heart rate initially after quitting alcohol, research has demonstrated these returning to baseline levels after about a month (6).

Additionally, if you were experiencing hypertension, increased cholesterol, or insulin resistance as a result of chronic alcohol use and its impacts on the liver and metabolism, these may start to improve. 

• Your Skin May Look Healthier

Drinking alcohol can provoke negative changes to your skin. 

One study in 2019 found that women who drank more than eight drinks a week reported increased:

• Upper facial lines
• Under-eye puffiness
• Oral commissures
• Midface volume loss
• Visible blood vessels (8).

Severe alcohol consumption often leads to dehydration, which is terrible for your skin. As you reduce alcohol intake or stop drinking, your skin may look more hydrated and appear healthier. 

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• Your Brain Recovers

Research suggests it may take months for the brain to recover from alcohol abuse. 

Alcohol abuse can shrink the grey matter of the brain, which may lead to symptoms such as difficulty in:

• Concentration
• Memory loss
• Impulsivity (9).

Alcohol abstinence helps your brain recover, which should improve those symptoms, and over time, you may notice improvements in your working memory and decision-making abilities. 

• Your Gut Health Starts To Improve

Alcohol can negatively impact your gastrointestinal tract. 

Chronic alcohol use can disrupt your gut barrier, the lining that keeps pathogens from passing into your bloodstream.

Some research suggests that in some people, a disrupted gut lining restores itself within 3 weeks of quitting alcohol. However, the gut microbiome starts to improve during that time and seems to take longer to recover fully (6).

• You Will Finally Have Better Quality Sleep

Drinking can help you fall asleep faster but suppresses REM sleep, the restorative, important part of your sleeping cycle. Therefore, alcohol reduces your sleep quality (10).

Plus, alcohol acts as a diuretic, potentially making you get up from your bed to the bathroom a few times during the night. These interruptions also interfere with steady sleep.

Ditching alcohol, therefore, can help you sleep better and move forward more productively.

Read more: How to Build a Healthy Dinner Plate, According to Experts

Will I Lose Belly Fat If I Stop Drinking Alcohol?

Alcohol weight gain is possible, mainly when you consume it heavily. 

Aside from containing empty calories, alcohol increases your food cravings. 

Who does not want to get another snack when drinking a glass of beer, right?

According to a recent study on the association between alcohol and obesity, harmful alcohol consumption was associated with obesity, including a high BMI and a larger waist circumference (11).

Cutting back on alcohol can help you reduce the overall number of calories and ultimately affect your belly fat reduction.

Indeed, a person may lose weight if they don’t make up those calories with high-sugar beverages. Overall, belly fat reduction is a complex process that requires more than alcohol abstinence. However, 2 weeks without alcohol weight loss is possible if you use water or other unsweetened drinks as your substitution for alcohol.

If you want to shed calories and trim your belly fat, you can do the following: 

• Sleep well
• Stay hydrated
• Have an active lifestyle.
• Reduce your stress in life.
• Eat protein and fiber-rich meals.

Your weight changes can happen if you implement positive habits into your life. 

Making small steps and practicing self-discipline can significantly impact your results. 

Quitting alcohol is the foremost step in body transformation.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it good to quit alcohol suddenly?

Abruptly quitting alcohol may be a positive change, but some people need to do so under the supervision of medical professionals. Heavy drinkers can have alcohol withdrawal symptoms once they ditch alcohol immediately, and the best way to prevent them is by consulting their healthcare providers. 

They could reduce the withdrawal symptoms with the help of monitoring and treatment. 

• Will my body heal if I stop drinking?

After you stop drinking alcohol, your body will transform inside and out: 

You will sleep better, feel more invigorated, and improve your heart and liver health. 

Your metabolism will start working correctly again, and your brain function will improve.

• What happens on day 5 of no alcohol?

The symptoms and benefits of not drinking for 5 days may differ for each individual. 

For some, this is the day when their bodies start adjusting to living without alcohol, and some of the worst physical withdrawal symptoms may have improved. 

Some may have more energy and better concentration, while others aren’t there yet.

During this time, some people start sleeping better and experience vivid dreams due to increased rapid-eye movement sleep (12).

• What is considered a heavy drinker?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women are heavy drinkers if they consume more than 4 drinks per day, or 8 drinks or more per week. Men are heavy drinkers when they consume 5 or more drinks on any day or 15 or more per week (13).

The Bottom Line

This review helped you discover what happens when you stop drinking alcohol. 

The changes to your physical and mental well-being can involve:

• Better sleep
• Improved digestion
• Better heart health
• Potential weight loss
• Healthier skin appearance
• Improved brain functioning

Additionally, you now know that people who are considering cutting back on alcohol should assess whether they need to:

• Do it on their own
• Or with the help of their healthcare providers.

Regarding the weight loss question, quitting alcohol is one of the other key factors contributing to weight loss. Those who want to consume fewer calories must drastically change their lifestyles by:

1. Eating a healthy, balanced diet
2. Increasing physical activity
3. Improving sleep quality
4. Managing stress

To sum up, ditching alcohol is hands down one of the best ways to enhance your life quality, but if you are a heavy drinker, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about how to quit safely.