Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive and potentially fatal disease characterized by tolerance and physical dependency or pathological organ changes, or both. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse occur in every socio-economic group, although the problems may manifest themselves differently across groups.
Alcoholism is one of the most serious problems in the United States today.
In 1981, the equivalent of 2.77 gallons of absolute alcohol was sold per person over the age of 14. This is about 591 12-oz. A tenth of the drinking population consumes half the alcoholic beverages sold. Alcohol abuse accounts for over 98,000 deaths annually. 116.7 billion was the economic cost to the nation resulting from alcohol abuse and alcoholism in 1983.