The Birmingham Untreated Heavy Drinkers (BUHD) project recruited 500 untreated heavy drinkers directly from the community. All participants completed the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ) and the Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ) and two sub-samples of 25 participants each were interviewed in depth about their experiences of dependence and readiness to change. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to make comparisons with previous research, evaluate the applicability of pre-existing theory and develop grounded theories pertaining to untreated heavy drinkers. Findings distinguished the BUHD sample from those used in previous research studies (particularly clinical samples); indicated a broad conceptualization of dependence including social and environmental aspects; and suggested that readiness to change be understood in terms of cognitive-behavioural profiles rather than the sequential transtheoretical model. Implications of the research are discussed.