This cross-sectional analysis examined associations between alcohol intake and subjective health in a random sample (n = 6, 040) drawn from the general population aged 25–64 years in Finland in 1992. Self-reported health was good for 3, 375 persons and average or poor (suboptimal) for 2, 665 persons. Crude odds ratios suggested a U-shaped pattern between alcohol intake and suboptimal health. The pattern took more of a J-shape after data were controlled for sex, age, education, marital status, lack of close friends, being on a disability pension, smoking, being an ex-drinker, and having decreased one's alcohol intake during the past 12 months because of health problems. An interaction was found between alcohol and smoking. The pattern of alcohol odds ratios showed a J-shaped association among never smokers, and a similar pattern was suggested among ex-smokers and current smokers. Among never smokers, the lowest risk was found at the alcohol consumption level of 100–199 g/week (odds ratio (OR) = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CO 0.38–0.89). The highest risk was found among persons who regularly smoked ≥20 cigarettes per day and drank ≥300 g/week (OR = 4.44, 95% Cl 2.36–8.36). The risk for ex-drinkers did not differ from that for lifelong abstainers (OR = 0.89, 95% Cl 0.62–1.28), but persons who had decreased their alcohol intake during the past 12 months because of health problems had a higher risk (OR = 1.21, 95% Cl 1.05–1.39). The authors conclude that moderate alcohol intake is related to a self-perception of good health. Am J Epidemiol 1996; 144: 346–50.