I've mentioned our friends before and I'm still trying to gather insight.

He is now drinking alcohol within his meals. For example, liquor in coffee, rum cake, spirits in his soup. Have you seen this before?

The shaky hands. Is this a very common thing with alcoholism? It improves when he drinks.

Hard to guess how long all this has been going on.
Heavy drinking for a few decades.
Very heaving for at least five years.
Shaky hands a good three years.

Age: early 60s. Seems to be doing ok at work....but I suspect business is slowing down esp. in the last two or three years.

I used to abuse alcohol but have been sober for many years.

I developed moderate essential tremor ("shaky hands") and mild neuropathy in my hands. Both are not uncommon in people who abuse alcohol.

Now that I am sober both have largely resolved.

Tremors in the hands are typically a withdrawal symptom. It occurs when an alcoholic drinks less than what the body expects. My guess is that during social occasions where you see this happening the person tries to limit the volume he or she is drinking, causing mild withdrawal. As soon as drinking is resumed, these tremors usually disappear.

We saw a lot of "shaking going on" the first 5 days at rehab. After that time, normally, it subsides.

I shook for a week when I was "forced" to quit....it will go away once the body realizes it does not need the alcohol to function properly.

But, if he can't quit, the word of the day is "moderation".