my experience was that initially it would just be a one night binge ( after 1.5 years sobriety, and then after an additional 2.5 year sobriety). But as time passed and I continued to relapse over and over, the sobriety times would be shorter and the drinking times longer. I would return to previous level of drinking within a few days/weeks and then progress much further with more consequences (daily blackouts, emotional issues, physical issues, not being able to handle life). This last time drinking was about 4 or 5 years. Now sober 36 days.