Durkheim’s theory of suicide is reviewed with particular reference to his treatment of alcohol as a causal factor. It is argued that Durkheim views alcohol as an individual-level factor, rather than as a socio-cultural factor. This conception is criticized, as is his data analysis. It is argued that the societal rate of alcohol abuse has an explanatory power beyond the level of individual suicides. Some possible causal links between the suicide rate & the rates of alcohol abuse are discussed.