Brazilian studies on alcoholism published between 1943 and 1985, specially those concerned on epidemiology, and their data have been drawn up for this paper. Such data have been re-analysed and only absolute numbers have been employed. Rates and proportions have been recalculated so as to have the same characteristics. We have found a predominance of alcoholism in young males, between 20 and 49 years of age with a male/female ratio of 10:1. As to prevalence rates, three studies carried out in populations with 15 yean and more, were consistent only for alcoholism disease, and yeld 6% to 13% in males, and 0.7% to 1.4% in females. Inpatient data have shown a high proportion of alcoholics which, summed up with schizophrenia achieved 50% of all inpatient population. It is impossible do draw conclusions regarding Brazil as whole, due to economical and cultural heterogeneity of the population, the size of the country, distinct diagnostic criteria used by different authors, and to the paucity of studies yielding prevalence rates.
