How long has the patient not had an alcoholic drink if he shows signs of withdrawal including tremors and sweating?

The signs of alcohol withdrawal, such as tremors and sweating, typically begin to manifest within a certain timeframe after the last drink. In general, these symptoms start to appear around 6 to 24 hours after cessation of alcohol intake. Therefore, if a patient is exhibiting withdrawal symptoms such as tremors and sweating, it is reasonable to conclude that they have not had an alcoholic drink for approximately 24 hours.

This timing aligns with the onset of withdrawal symptoms, which may start mildly within a few hours of the last drink but can escalate in severity up to 24 hours post-consumption. While withdrawal symptoms can continue to develop and worsen over the next couple of days, the presence of early symptoms at the 24-hour mark is a critical indicator for health professionals in assessing the patient's condition.