How soon after the last drink do alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically begin?

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically begin approximately 8 hours after the last drink. This timing is associated with the pharmacokinetics of alcohol and its effects on the central nervous system. As alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, the abrupt cessation after a period of heavy drinking can lead to a hyper-excitable state in the body as it tries to adjust to the absence of alcohol.

The onset of withdrawal symptoms can start as early as a few hours after the last drink, but they are most commonly noted around the 8-hour mark. This period can vary depending on individual factors such as the duration and intensity of alcohol use, as well as individual physiology, but the 8-hour timeframe is a standard benchmark in clinical practice.

Other time frames presented in the choices may occur, but they do not align with the common clinical observation that withdrawal symptoms develop within the first half of a day after cessation in most cases. Starting at around 2 hours would be unusually early for a significant symptomatology to manifest, while suggesting a window of 16 or 24 hours is too broad for the typical initial symptoms to be recognized.