In clinical practice it is important to consider the possibility of alcohol consumption as an etiologic or contributing factor for disease. Information concerning abuse might be obtained by e.g. interviews or indirectly by use of different abuse registers and/or laboratory screening tests. It was found in the present study that statements made by 95 patients with chronic low back pain on drinking habits correlated well with presence of alcohol related problems. Drinking statements thus appear to be useful, at least in well motivated individuals. In patients without alcohol problems the estimated mean daily ethanol consumption generally did not exceed 15 g. An ethanol intake exceeding 15 g per day more than one per week during the last six months was reported by about every third patient with former or present alcohol problems. Such a reported drinking pattern should make the doctor more vigilant about signs of alcohol abuse.