The admission to a hospital and abrupt cessation of drinking often provokes an alcohol withdrawal syndrome in an alcohol dependent patient. The patients hospitalised in relation to chronic ethanol abuse in years 2001-2002 at the Internal Medicine Ward of the Specialist Hospital in Biała Podlaska were subjected to the study. In those years alcohol related patients made 2 and 3% of the total amount of patients, respectively. Among the patients, men aged 40-49 years old prevailed. The most common diagnoses in the analysed group were: alcoholic liver disease, liver cirrhosis and acute pancreatitis. In the treatment of withdrawal symptoms diazepam was used. Only few percent of patients in the analysed group needed physical restraints because of their great agitation. Early recognition and correct treatment of threatening alcohol withdrawal syndrome diminishes the risk of severe symptoms and complications.