Chronic alcoholism in a multi-disciplinary clinic in a district general hospital

Chronic alcoholism or the alcohol dependence syndrome (the term suggested by the World Health Organization1) is a serious and growing problem in Great Britain2. In England and Wales alone it is estimated that there are about 700 000 alcoholics (constituting 2–3% of the population); in Scotland 10% of the population have a drinking problem; there are two to three women to every five men in Britain who are alcoholics compared to one woman to five men 10 years ago3,4. There are 15 alcoholics for an average general practitioner (of which only two may be known); 75 000 convictions for public drunkenness and 40–60 % among convicted persons have a drinking problem5.