[Alcohol consumption and organic damage. Views and attitudes of Danish patients and their relatives]

A total of 201 patients and their relatives in a hospital in Copenhagen participated in a structured interview investigation about their knowledge of the long-term effects of alcohol and their attitudes to restrictions. The majority approved of an upper limit for alcohol consumption within the recommended limits but a total of approximately 1/3 preferred a higher limit. Only 28% realised that there was a difference in how much alcohol women and men can tolerate. The majority, but far from all of the participants knew that alcohol could damage the liver and brain but few knew of damage to other organs. A total of 64% had a positive attitude to prohibition of alcohol consumption in places of employment in Denmark. It is suggested that information about alcohol should be concentrated in the form of simple clear messages.