The paucity of survey research pertaining to alcohol abuse and domestic violence and the methodological and interpretive problems accompanying existing research weakens any conclusions drawn in this area. The data suggest, however, that any relationship between alcohol use or alcoholism and child abuse will not account for major portions of variance in the child abuse variable. Similar problems accompany the survey research on alcohol use and wife battering. Findings are consistent, however, and suggest an association between acute alcohol consumption and marital violence. Analog studies, including studies of laboratory aggression and family interactions, demonstrate important relationships between alcohol consumption and increases in aggression linked to violence. Laboratory studies suggest that alcohol consumption does increase aggression in some people under certain circumstances. Studies of alcoholics interacting with their wives indicates that alcohol consumption increases the expression of negative affect. 97 references.