Fifty subjects — 30 alcoholics and 20 non-alcoholics were selected from the industrial area of Ludhiana City of Punjab. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24 hr dietary recall method for three consecutive days, along with an alcohol intake history. The nutrient intake of alcoholics — food energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, calcium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin A and C was lower as compared to non-alcoholics because of less intake of cereals, pulses, milk and milk products, sugar, fruit and eggs. The most salient feature was that total energy intake was almost the same in alcoholics and non-alcoholics. However, energy from food of alcoholics was significantly less, resulting in diets deficient in nutrients. © 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.