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
>>
>