Deciding to stop or cut down is a big step. For most people it’s safe to do with a good plan. For people who drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Here’s how to tell the difference, and how to do it safely.
If you drink heavily every day, don’t stop suddenly on your own: withdrawal can cause fits and can be life-threatening. See a doctor, who can plan a safe, supported stop. If you’re not dependent, you can usually cut down or stop yourself with a clear plan.
First: are you physically dependent?
The NHS warns: “It can be very dangerous to stop drinking suddenly if you’re dependent on alcohol.” Signs that your body has come to depend on alcohol include:
- Shaking, sweating, nausea or anxiety when you haven’t had a drink, especially in the morning.
- Drinking in the morning to steady yourself.
- Drinking heavily every day.
- Having had fits, hallucinations or confusion when you stopped before.
If any of these apply, get medical help to stop. UK guidance suggests medically supported withdrawal for anyone who usually drinks more than about 15 units a day, roughly five 600ml bottles of 5% lager, and hospital-based withdrawal for much heavier drinking or for anyone who has had withdrawal fits before.
What withdrawal looks like
- Timing: symptoms usually start 6 to 12 hours after the last drink and ease within 3 to 7 days.
- Common symptoms: shaking, sweating, anxiety, poor sleep, nausea and restlessness.
- Serious complications: fits usually happen within the first two days. A few days in, some people develop delirium tremens: confusion, seeing or hearing things, fever and a racing heart. It can be fatal without treatment.
Get emergency help now for a fit, hallucinations, confusion or severe shaking. Go to the nearest hospital emergency unit, or call 112, or 767 in Lagos.
Getting help to stop safely
“Medically assisted withdrawal” means stopping with a doctor’s supervision. It’s usually done at home or as an outpatient, with frequent check-ins, and sometimes in hospital. A doctor may prescribe short-term medicine to prevent dangerous withdrawal, and vitamin B1 (thiamine) to protect the brains of heavy drinkers. Our guide to Wernicke’s encephalopathy explains why that matters.
Don’t try to detox yourself with sedatives bought from a pharmacy or patent medicine store. Guidelines use them only on prescription, with close monitoring.
In Lagos, the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, has a 24-hour emergency unit and a substance use and addiction clinic on Tuesdays; call 0815 517 0000 or 0906 000 1907. Our guides to Yaba Left and choosing a rehab centre explain your options.
If you’re not dependent: cutting down or stopping
- Track every drink, before you have it, in a notebook or on your phone.
- Count by strength and size, not bottles. A 600ml bottle of 5% lager is about 3 UK units; a 600ml stout at 6.5% is about 4; a 50ml shot of 40% spirit is about 2. Local gin can be 40% to 60% alcohol. Palm wine gets stronger the longer it stands, reaching about 4.5% after two days in one Nigerian study.
- Set drink-free days each week, and set a limit before you start drinking.
- Choose smaller or weaker drinks, eat first, and alternate with water or soft drinks.
- Keep little or no alcohol at home.
- Plan for triggers: paydays, owambes, stress, particular friends. Decide in advance what you’ll drink, or leave early.
- Practise your “no”. Say it quickly and firmly, keep a soft drink in your hand, and repeat the same short answer if pushed.
- Tell people you’re cutting down, and find other ways to relax and socialise.
UK low-risk guidance is no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days, which is about four or five large bottles of lager. WHO says no level of drinking is risk-free. If cutting down hasn’t worked after two or three months, it’s usually time to aim to stop and get help.
Be careful with local and unregistered drinks
In September 2026, methanol-contaminated local drinks served at naming ceremonies in Ondo State killed at least 48 people and left others blind, according to NAFDAC. You can’t reliably smell or taste methanol. Buy NAFDAC-registered drinks from licensed sellers, and get emergency care at once for blurred vision, a severe headache, breathing difficulty or confusion after drinking. Spirits in sachets and bottles under 200ml are now banned, and NAFDAC has been enforcing the ban nationwide since July 2026.
Suggested read: Social Anxiety at Parties and Owambes
Staying stopped
- Talking therapy. CBT and motivational counselling help with cravings, triggers and the reasons you drink. You can find a therapist who works with addiction, by video, voice or chat.
- Mutual support. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous help many people. We couldn’t confirm in-person AA meetings in Nigeria, but AA’s online meetings are open to anyone.
- Medicines. After withdrawal, some medicines can reduce cravings or relapse, but they may be hard to find in Nigeria. Ask a doctor what’s available.
- Slips happen. A return to drinking is a common setback, not a failure. Get back to your plan, and back in touch with support.
Sleep, energy and mood usually improve after stopping, though sleep can take a month or more to settle. Read more about alcohol addiction in Nigeria, alcohol withdrawal and addiction.
Frequently asked questions
Is it dangerous to stop drinking suddenly?
It can be, if you’re dependent on alcohol. Heavy daily drinkers can get fits or delirium tremens when they stop suddenly. Get medical help to stop safely.
How long does alcohol withdrawal last?
Symptoms usually start 6 to 12 hours after the last drink and ease within 3 to 7 days. Some effects, such as poor sleep, can last longer.
Can I stop drinking on my own?
If you’re not dependent, usually yes, with a plan and support. If you drink heavily every day, or get shaky or sweaty without a drink, see a doctor first.
How do I know if I’m dependent on alcohol?
Warning signs include shaking, sweating or anxiety without a drink, drinking in the morning to steady yourself, and drinking heavily every day. A doctor can assess you.
What should I do if someone has a fit after stopping drinking?
Call 112, or 767 in Lagos, or get them to the nearest hospital emergency unit straight away, and stay with them.
This article is awaiting clinical review. It’s based on published research and health guidelines, and we’ll update it once a clinician has reviewed it.
