some drink heavily, on a regular basis, some can have one or two drinks and become addicted. Perhaps the Canada scheme could be viable, but i don't know anyone who would try it.
Just enough alcohol to stop them going in to potentially fatal withdrawal but not enough to get them sloshed. Seems a good plan to me for some. Nobody sets out to be an alcoholic.
Some hostels/managed housing facilities for homeless will be "wet houses", whereby alchohol is available on a limited basis. As has been said, some are so far gone and cannot stop. To do so results in death.
emmie, for certain people it does work...the evidence is there. I don't think its something anyone WANTS to try but when its that or death on the street then maybe....