Abstract
In order to study and assess relationship between alcoholism and accident mortality, the number of accidental deaths among 1,343 San Francisco Bay Area alcoholics was compared to that expected on the basis of the age and sex-specific death rates for Bay Area residents. The circumstances of death are discussed and it is suggested that the elevated rate of accident mortality among alcoholics reflects not only the immediate effects of alcohol, but also their life pattern, personality, state of health, and care received when ill or injured.