The character is presented of the changes in the pathomorphological picture of alcoholic hepatocellular damage. The most frequently observed forms of clinical picture of alcoholic hepatitis are discussed. In the diagnosis of this nosological entity the role is stressed of liver biopsy as the method making possible obtaining of the most reliable diagnostic-prognostic information. In comparison with pathological examination of liver biopsy specimen, biochemical investigations are less useful in view of their low specificity.