This paper compares two approaches to teaching a course on alcohol abuse to high school students. The importance of the teacher's basic personal beliefs in selecting a theme and determining the goal of the course are described in terms of the two directions a course can take, i.e., that drinking is morally wrong, or that moderate, controlled drinking is acceptable. The influence of peers and the effect of a communication gap between teacher and students are considered. Of the two possible goals, total abstinence and prevention of alcoholism, the latter is suggested as the best approach for helping students make individual decisions about the use of alcohol as well as for developing a preventive-type, long-term program in general. (JAC)