You might try looking at the Irish aspects of drinking and the impact on Irish-American drinking, which is covered in Richard Stivers "A Hair of the Dog" if I am not mistaken (I am doing this e-mail from memory). This does not cover the business aspects, but the Irish part may be influential. Susan Kling UCLA Teaching Fellow >>I am working as editor on a major study of an Irish importer/wholesaler of >>whiskey and wine called Findlaters and came across an issue or two of your >>journal. The topic interested me specifically since the penultimate Managing >>Director of the firm (1938-62) basically drank himself to death (starting it >>is thought after the death of his 10 year old daughter in 1944). He became a >>two bottles of gin man. >>The interesting thing is that he never had trouble finding people >>(fellowbusinessmen) to drink with. Almost a culture of alcohol. Is there >>anything on this almost suicidal mix of business and alcohol that might >>illuminate this sad story? >> >>Tony Farmar >> >