[A French experiment: a law for alcoholics presumed to be dangerous]

In France the complexity of the problems of alcoholism lie in its magnitude as well as its socio-economic implications. Countermeasures are conducted on essentially four levels: (i) social and educational; (ii) economic; (iii) repressive; (iv) health measures; all of which are embodied in the law of April 15th, 1954 concerning 'alcoholics presumably dangerous to others'. After a historical introduction the authors delineate the ante-delinquent character of the 1954 law and compare it to similar 'ante delictum' laws elsewhere. They describe the various modalities of its application and analyze its concept and actual application under positive as well as negative aspects. In an era of widely advocated, though not always sufficiently financed and endorsed, preventive approaches it appears worthwhile reflecting on a law which is opposed in principle by some and is difficult to apply because of limited resources, but has the merit of existing and allowing for an analysis of the reality.