ABSTRACT
Alcohol is still regarded by many as a soft, harmless drug. Problem drinking, alcohol-related problems, and alcohol dependence are not interchangeable terms. The definitions of these terms vary according to the individuals affected, since people are able to drink alcohol in differing amounts without necessarily suffering personal or health-related consequences. Alcoholic liver disease is a medical diagnosis and is related to the absolute amount of alcohol consumed. Problem drinkers are probably best described as those who drink alcohol in amounts which, for them, compromise their health, personality, relationships and working lives. It is important to be able to convert a patient’s estimated alcohol usage into units, since the number of units consumed is directly proportional to the risk of developing alcoholic liver disease. Units are measures related to the alcohol ol content of different drinks.
