What can I recommend for a friend who gets the shakes if they don't drink?

If you hang around with alcoholics for any length of time, you notice that many of them want to stop having the bad things that go with alcoholism, but continue to drink like an alcoholic. Such a person is not truly ready to stop drinking. His shakes are called delirium tremens and are a withdrawal symptom from alcohol. To say that he can't stop drinking because he doesn't want to go through withdrawal is a pathetic excuse. To say he doesn't want to go to a doctor because he doesn't want the employer to know is also a pathetic excuse. Trust me, THE EMPLOYER ALREADY KNOWS! Alcoholic are never as clever as they think they are. It's really really obvious that alcoholics are alcoholics. They smell bad, they act weird, they look and act drunk. Most importantly, it's illegal to discriminate. Every resource this guy would need to quit drinking is available to him. Every excuse he gives is ridiculous and transparent. He needs to go to an AA meeting--they're happening every day in every city and town across the country. No one will know his identity. It's free. Hundreds of people are there to help him at these meetings (only maybe a dozen at each meeting, but membership is much larger than that if you look at attendance at all the meetings).

Also, here is information on the shakes and how to get through them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens

AA: http://www.sober.org/Step0.html

Tell him to stop with the pathetic exuses and deal with his problem!

The employer cannot access his medical records. That would be a breach of doctor patient confidentiality. Just because the employer is funding the employees insurance does not give them any right to access that information. Any way they would obtain that information would be illegal, so if they used it against them he would definitely have a case to file some law suits.

As far as the alcohol addiction, if it's at the point of the DTs (Dementia Tremors), I am thinking rehab/medical help is the best way to go about this. This friend is obviously heavily dependent upon the drug to survive and needs rehabilitation. If it isn't already at the point where he is having hallucinations, that can start.

It sounds like he/she needs a drink. If he/she is having financial problems, he/she need not worry. The state offers beer stamps to those who need but cannot afford the sauce. Take him/her to any Dept of Economic Security building and they should be able to set him up in a few days. In the meantime, it looks like you are going to need to make a beer run pronto. Hurry, your friend is counting on you!

Have them attend an AA meeting.