To assess the extent of alcohol related illness in acute medical admissions, 648 consecutive male admissions to the medical unit of the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, were studied. Blood alcohol was measured on admission & each patient was invited to complete a modified Michigan Alcohol Screening Test. Diagnosis of self poisoning was made in 50 patients, (19 had of these had positive blood alcohol levels). Self poisoning was most common in the 21-30 age group.