Can I safely stop drinking alcohol within two weeks after consuming 350ml of 80 proof (80% alcohol by volume) gin daily for two years?

No, You Cannot Safely Stop Drinking on Your Own Within Two Weeks

After two years of consuming 350ml of 80-proof gin daily (approximately 112g of pure alcohol per day), abrupt cessation without medical supervision is dangerous and potentially life-threatening due to the high risk of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome, including seizures and delirium tremens. 1, 2, 3

Why Self-Managed Withdrawal is Dangerous at Your Consumption Level

Your daily intake of 112g of alcohol is nearly three times the threshold (40g/day) associated with developing alcoholic hepatitis and severe alcohol-related complications. 1 At this level of chronic consumption, you are at extremely high risk for:

• Withdrawal seizures occurring within 6-24 hours after your last drink 2, 3, 4
• Delirium tremens (DTs) appearing 48-72 hours after cessation, which carries a mortality rate of up to 3% even with treatment 4, 5
• Severe autonomic instability including dangerous fluctuations in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature 5

The major risk factors that make you a high-risk candidate include chronic heavy drinking for two years and the sheer volume of daily consumption. 4

What You Must Do Instead

Immediate Medical Evaluation Required

You need inpatient medical detoxification, not outpatient management. 3, 6 Your consumption level exceeds safe parameters for outpatient withdrawal. Inpatient admission is indicated when there is:

• High levels of recent drinking (you meet this criterion) 3
• Risk of withdrawal seizures or delirium tremens 3
• Need for continuous monitoring of vital signs 4

The Medical Treatment You Will Receive

Benzodiazepines are the gold standard and only proven treatment to prevent life-threatening complications of alcohol withdrawal. 1, 2, 3, 4

Specific protocol:

• Chlordiazepoxide 50-100mg orally every 4-6 hours for the first 24-48 hours, adjusted based on withdrawal severity 3
• If you have any liver damage (likely given your consumption), lorazepam 1-4mg every 4-8 hours is safer as it doesn't require liver metabolism 3
• Treatment duration: 7-14 days maximum to prevent benzodiazepine dependence 3, 4
• Monitoring with CIWA-Ar scale (scores >8 require treatment, ≥15 indicate severe withdrawal) 3

Critical adjunctive therapy:

• Thiamine 100-300mg daily is mandatory to prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy, a potentially irreversible brain damage 2, 3, 4
• Thiamine must be given BEFORE any glucose-containing IV fluids, as glucose can precipitate acute Wernicke's encephalopathy 3
• Continue thiamine for 2-3 months after withdrawal 3

Why "Tapering" at Home Won't Work

Gradual self-withdrawal by drinking decreasing amounts is not recommended and has never been proven effective in clinical trials. 4 The risk of:

• Miscalculating doses and triggering withdrawal anyway
• Continuing the cycle of dependence
• Missing early signs of severe withdrawal that require immediate medical intervention

makes this approach medically unsound at your consumption level.

What Happens After Detoxification

Complete and permanent abstinence is non-negotiable for your survival and health. 1 Even after successful detoxification:

• Any alcohol consumption increases mortality risk 1
• Relapse rates are 67-81% within one year without proper support 1

Medications to maintain abstinence after detox:

• Naltrexone or acamprosate combined with counseling to prevent relapse 1
• Baclofen has shown benefit in patients with liver disease 1, 2

Ongoing psychiatric consultation and addiction treatment are essential for long-term success. 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never attempt "cold turkey" cessation at your consumption level—this can be fatal 2, 4, 5
• Don't underestimate withdrawal timeline: symptoms peak at 3-5 days, not within the first 24 hours 3
• Don't skip thiamine supplementation—this is as critical as benzodiazepines 2, 3, 4
• Don't assume you can manage with willpower alone—this is a medical emergency requiring pharmacological intervention 1, 2, 3

Your Immediate Action Plan

1. Contact a physician or emergency department today to arrange medically supervised detoxification 3, 6
2. Do not stop drinking abruptly before medical evaluation—continue your current pattern until under medical care 4
3. Expect 5-7 days of inpatient treatment with close monitoring 3, 4
4. Plan for long-term addiction treatment starting immediately after detox 3, 7

Your two-year history of heavy drinking has created physiological dependence that requires medical intervention. Self-management is not an option at this level of consumption.