Fifty-three urban general practitioners were questioned about alcoholism. They mostly had reasonably good, if sometimes muddled knowledge of the condition, when to suspect it, and how to confirm its presence. Social harms were seen as predominant over somatic ones. The majority had had postgraduate instruction supplemented by reading. Most were prepared to treat alcoholics, and revealed tolerant and sympathetic attitudes towards them and their families. The survey negates the general impression of unwillingness by general practitioners to engage with alcoholism.