The opinions of general practitioners on alcohol abuse

: A postal survey has been carried out in order to know the attitudes of general practitioners concerning the harmful effects of alcohol. Only 18% of the 150 physicians of a roman suburban area involved in the survey returned the questionnaire. According to a quarter of them a daily intake of wine larger than 600 ml (65 g of alcohol) in man and 500 ml in women is still unharmful. Anamnesis, behaviour disturbances, liver enlargement and "liver enzymes" were considered the most useful diagnostic procedures. Every preventive strategy emphasizing the role of general practitioners has to take into account the need of appropriate guidelines.