This article examines the relationship between suicide & alcohol consumption across 98 different countries. Suicide & alcohol consumption rates were those calculated by the World Health Organization (2008 & 2004 databases). A simple correlation analysis was done & cross-national variations were shown in cartograms with the values of the standard deviation as class breaks. A significant positive association emerged between per capita alcohol consumption & gender-specific suicides rates when all 98 countries were considered. When considering the group of ex-communist countries alone, the correlation coefficient between alcohol consumption & suicide rates was higher & statistically significant for men & women. (44 refs.) JA