A survey conducted among the 1808 inmates of the penitentiary at Sremska Mitrovica, Yugoslavia, in 1964, showed that 760 (42%) were alcoholics according to the World Health Organization definition (306) or had committed crimes in connection with alcohol (454). The majority were aged between 25 and 40 years, 67% were married, 14% divorced or widowed; 23% had committed homicide, 5% grievous bodily harm, 16% burglary, 14% theft, 8% embezzlement; 46% were farm or unskilled laborers, 10% skilled, 13% clerks, 22% craft workers. The commonest beverage was distilled spirits (drunk by 38%). More of the problem drinkers were neurotic and had psychopathic tendencies compared with the general prison population. The problem drinkers blamed women, money, love of pleasure, family quarrels, nerves or jealousy for their intoxication; 114 blamed society. For the final 6 months of their sentence the problem drinkers attend an alcoholism treatment center at the penitentiary which offers individual and group psychotherapy and occupational and drug therapy. For the final 3 months the prisoners stay in an open part of the penitentiary and may visit the town with friends and family. The group therapy is well received by the problem drinkers.