patients will need to receive such an intervention for one of the three to benefit (Wilk A et al, 1997). The reductions in alcohol use seem to be maintained at 12 months (Fleming M et al, 1997), and have been demonstrated to be effective in elderly as well as younger populations (Fleming M et al, 1999). There is some indication that men may benefit more than women (Kahan M et al, 1995). An international multicentre randomised controlled trial conducted by 'The WHO Brief Intervention Study Group' studied 1260 men and 299 women who were drinking at levels considered to put them at risk of alcohol-related problems, but who had no prior history of alcohol dependence. They concluded that brief interventions were consistently robust across healthcare settings and socio-cultural groups (WHO Brief Intervention Study Group, 1996).