ABSTRACT
Italy is the largest wine-producing country in the world. There are few formal controls on wine production and viticulture has formed part of normal Italian farming practice for centuries. A voluntary agreement covering the advertising of alcoholic beverages on television has recently been proposed. There is little, if anything, in the way of a national alcohol education body or programme in Italy. Italy is among the highest of per capita alcohol consuming countries in the world. However, from 1974 onwards per capita consumption has been declining slowly. Contrary to long-held beliefs, alcohol problems are common and have grown in recent years in Italy. Cirrhosis mortality has increased and in industrial areas public drunkenness and intra-familial violence are said to be commonplace. More recently there has been growing concern within medical circles about the problem and efforts are being made to induce the political machinery to engage in preventive action.
