Abstract
A number of countries have recently embarked on responsible drinking or safe drinking educational campaigns. The object of these campaigns is to discourage people from exceeding levels of alcohol consumption considered compatible with good health. One possible implication of the success of these campaigns is an increase in per capita alcohol consumption. Such increases are usually thought of as inimical to health and therefore present the health educator with a dilemma. Reference is made to Australian data in an examination of this paradox.