The study was randomized and controlled, with followup data collected and blood tests administered as objective markers. The intervention worker was a middle-grade nurse with one year of experience in alcoholism treatment. She collected intake data and logged all patients seen. Most senior nurses and physicians in the hospital agreed to follow the patients to be studied. It was determined that social costs are significant in the evaluation and treatment of alcohol problems. The British government encourages joint planning at the local level so that some health decisions take into account social and voluntary services. It is hoped that the hospital project can be replicated in other health care settings. However, the importance of alcohol problems in medical settings is not widely acknowledged, and practitioners may not feel it is their role to counsel or intervene with excessive drinkers. 2 references