Originally published in 1983, a detailed review of public health issues in this field at the time opens the book. This is followed by an examination of alcohol-related problems and policies for their control in sixteen different European countries. The chapters on individual countries provide a source of information and data on alcohol policies, consumption and problems with which it is possible to examine from a cross-cultural and comparative basis the claims of a public health perspective. The final chapter draws together the cross-national data and discusses their implications for a public health response to alcohol problems. This book should now be a historical reference source for all interested in health policy in general and alcohol problems in particular.