If you are alcohol-dependent you have a strong desire to drink alcohol. In addition, your body becomes used to lots of alcohol. Therefore, you may start to develop withdrawal symptoms 3-8 hours after your last drink as the effect of the alcohol wears off. So, even if you want to stop drinking, it is often difficult because of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/healthy-living/alcohol-and-liver-disease/alcohol-withdrawal-and-detox-alcohol-detoxification