In this retrospective study, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers was studied in groups of heavy drinkers and primary hepatocellular carcinoma patients (202 patients), hospitalized for the first time in a medical department of gastroenterology in France. HBs Ag, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were respectively detected in 1.1, 25.8 and 20.9 p. cent of alcoholic patients without hepatocellular carcinoma. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was 26.9 p. cent. The presence of hepatitis B virus markers did not depend on excess alcohol consumption, sex, age, alcoholic liver disease intensity, or previous gastrointestinal bleeding or hospitalization, but was related to racial group and residence in countries with a high prevalence of HBs Ag. HBs Ag, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were observed in 0, 36.4 and 36.4 p. cent of the alcoholic cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and the prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers was 45.5 p. cent. The findings reported in this study suggest that hepatitis B virus infection has no major role in determining the rate of progression of alcoholic liver disease and plays a far lesser causal role in hepatocellular carcinoma in France than in high incidence regions.