If your friend is experiencing these "rambling" problems I suggest he takes it very seriously indeed, and reduces his alcohol intake from 20 pints a week to zero. I don't know how long he was drinking at his previous intake but he could well have caused permanent serious damage to his liver - and his brain ! If he cares to check any website about the symptoms of cirrhosis, and late stage cirrhosis, he will realise that he has some serious health problems to confront and deal with. If you are a good friend, I can only urge you to encourage him to join Alcoholics Anonymous where he will get the moral support he needs to change his habits. Also, if he is off work, encourage him to get down to his library and check the books, DVD's and videos there to pass the time, and also to start taking some gentle but regular exercise like walking. Also, he needs to start eating healthily and respect his body. It is the only one he has and he may not get a second chance. Meanwhile, his metabolism is probably in a total state of confusion and struggling to adapt to all the toxins which have been pumped into it and his liver is possibly too damaged to deal with the relatively high alcohol intake still being passed through it.