Alcohol use disorders are a major cause all the morbidity and mortality and it is important that physicians effectively diagnose and provide treatment for these patients. There are a number of sequential steps that can be undertaken to arrive at a diagnosis of alcohol problems. Following diagnosis and there are several treatment options including medications and behavioral treatments that can help patients cut down on their drinking and possibly achieve abstinence. As a first step, it is important that physicians adequately screened for alcohol use disorders in adequately characterize the magnitude of the problem so that appropriate avenues of treatment can be applied.