The present study examines the incidence of alcohol-related parasuicide at a Pietermaritzburg general hospital. Over 40% of married parasuicide women cited their husband’s abuse of alcohol & its associated violent behaviour as precipitants to their self-destructive acts. However, in contrast to overseas findings, recent alcohol intake was not prevelant in the parasuicide women themselves. This difference appears to be culturally rooted. (14 refs.)