The United States has a serious alcohol problem. To assume leadership of this societal problem, the federal government was forced to create a new unit, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Chafetz discusses the diagnosis of alcoholism and the limited treatment centers for alcoholics in the U.S. Unrealistic treatment goals guarantee failure. Other nations do not have societal alcoholism because they have clearly defined rules of alcohol use. Americans do not know how to drink, and they tolerate alcohol abuse.