The purpose of this study was to evaluate alcohol consumption and nutritional status in patients with alcoholic liver disease. The subjects were 80 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 12 patients with alcoholic fatty liver. Also 57 alcoholics without liver disease, 32 patients with viral liver cirrhosis and 194 normal men were included as control groups. Data on anthropometric index, socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, dietary habits and dietary intakes were collected by individual interview. Alcoholic liver disease group had significantly lower triceps skinfold thickness and mid-uppr-arm circumferences than other groups. Socioeconomic status of alcholoci subjects was middle class or lower than that. The amount, duration and frequency of alcohol consumption were significantly higher and the quality of side dishes consumed with alcoholic beverage was significantly poorer in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis than others. Patients with alchololic liver disease ingested approximately 40% of daily caloric intake as alcohol and all alcoholic subjects had lower average intakes of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals as compared with Korean adult average intakes. The results suggest that alcohol and poor dietary intake could cause malnutrition and might be two of the important risk factors to develop alcoholic liver disease in alcoholics. But other factors like genetic and immunological factors should be also considered in elucidating the causes of alcoholic liver disease. An extensive nutritional education should be emphasized for alcohol consuming population to prevent development of alcoholic liver disease.