This text reports on patterns of consumption of non-branded alcohol in seven countries: Brazil, India, Mexico, Russia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Using local consultants, investigators interviewed families in each country, in both rural and urban areas, on the subject of their drinking habits over a thirty-day period giving specific attention to their religious, educational and socio-economic status. Experts in the fields of toxicology, economics, and anthropology as well as representatives of the beverage industry give commentary on the common themes emerging from the collected data.

Imagine you are dropped into the center of town, to which you have never been, and are told to find your house. This is similar to the world of the Alzheimer's patient. There are so many missing pieces of memory and information. This is also the case if the care of an Alzheimer's patient is suddenly thrust upon you. You find yourself in a completely strange and sometimes hostile land. You will run a gamut of red tape and deal with everyone from a disgruntled clerk to a circuit court judge. You will deal with doctors, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists in your journey. When you think you are making progress, you find brick walls. When you are ready to give up, a little light will come along. Helps will come from the most unexpected sources. Through it all there will be smiles and frowns, tears and laughter, and good times and bad times. You will emerge from the other end, bruised, battered, and beaten, but wiser and stronger as well. This is our story. As it began, I kept a journal, to keep track of whom I talked to about what, what I did when, and where we were at the end of the day. That journal grew into this, the story of our journey into darkness. This journey changed us all in many ways. It involved many people in the family, the husband, the wife/daughter, and the children. Everyone pitched in at times. We are closer for it. We came through slightly scathed, but more strongly knit. There isn't an 'if I could change this' in this story. That was never our option. What was, was. We dealt with it and went on to the next day. Perhaps our story can help you in your journey.