Excessive drinking creates countless personal disasters, including job losses, bankruptcies, suicides, divorces, crimes, lost friendships, and ruined family life. Nearly 1 in 10 adults meets criteria for chronic alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction, and 1 in 4 Americans feels the pain caused by alcohol problems. How can a democratic society safely control the drug alcohol? This National Issues Forums (NIF) booklet provides an overview of the issue and outlines three perspectives for public deliberation. Each perspective speaks for one set of U.S. priorities and views and, drawing ideas from across the political spectrum, advocates a unique and consistent approach to the issue. Perspectives are: (1) "Demand Citizen Responsibility" (alcohol control laws are not effectively enforced); (2) "Treat the Public Health Epidemic" (need more programs on prevention, early detection, counseling, and treatment); and (3) "Educate for Societal Change" (educate to dispel ignorance of alcohol's effects and to generate popular social norms for responsible behavior). Each perspective presents arguments for and against the perspective, and a final summary compares the three perspectives. (Contains sample pre-forum and post-forum questionnaires.) (BT)