Alcohol has been implicated in the genesis of liver disease for centuries. Modern epidemiological data from many societies corroborate the correlation between per capita consumption of alcohol and deaths from cirrhosis. Although significant progress has been made in our understanding of the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease, ALD, effective therapies for most individuals with ALD have not been found. High per capita consumption of alcohol, coupled with the dearth of effective treatments and the failure of most affected individuals to abstain from alcohol, explains why ALD is one of the most prevalent forms of disabling, chronic liver disease.