A 2-year alcohol study was undertaken for the Papua New Guinea Institute of Applied Social and Economic Research (IASER). This paper reports project findings bearing on general public health related to alcohol consumption: (1) Much trauma is alcohol related-particularly trauma caused by motor vehicle accidents. (2) Continued ingestion of nonbeverage alcohols--principally methanol--exacts a significant public health toll. (3) Patterns of drinking and national trends in beverage alcohol consumption suggest that alcoholic cirrhosis and cancer of the upper respiratory and upper digestive tracts will contribute to increased mortality among Papua New Guineans.