David Mcknight assesses the effects that alcohol has had on a small aboriginal community. He explores why drinking has become the main social activity, leading to high levels of illness, suicide and homicide.

David Mcknight is a member of the emeritus staff at the London School of Economics. He has been conducting research among Australian Aborigines for 35 years and lived with the people of Mornington Island for over five years.

Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction 2. Anthropological Views of 'The Drinking Problem' 3. Policies and Practices: Putting Aborigines 'in their place' 4. The Social and Historical Background of the Wellesley Islands 5. Changing Relationships Between the Generations 6. Try-Ask and Knock-Back 7, The Snake 8. The Shire and the Canteen 9. The Destruction of the Community and the Self 10. Childhood and Formal Education 11. Law and the Police 12. The Built Environment 13. 'You Can't Stop Native People From Drinking'? 14. Why Isn't Something Done? 15. Conclusions. Endnotes. Appendix. Bibliography