Human studies have many methodological problems, and animal studies may not be relevant to the human experience. Alcohol studies cannot assume that different forms of violence, which can be influenced by alcohol, share a common causality; comparisons can only be made following scientific inquiry. Within the same category of violence, there are often a number of plausible explanations for the action of alcohol, and it may be that this drug can simultaneously contribute to violence in a number of ways. If subsequent research shows that alcohol can influence different kinds of violence through a single mechanism, this is not likely to be a specific effect on aggression but a general effect on behavior. A total of 98 references are appended.