Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and females, 18-70 years old.
• Meets DSM-IV criteria for current diagnoses of alcohol dependence, determined by the SCID-IV {First, 1996 #34}.
• Meets the following drinking criteria, measured by TLFB and the Addiction Severity Index {McLellan, 1992 #37}: a. drank to intoxication 15 of the previous 30 days prior to entering the trial, defined in the ASI as drinking to achieve a "high or buzz" and operationally defined as 3 or more drinks in one sitting of 1-2 hours. b. reports an average of 12 standard drinks per drinking day for men (10 for women) in the 30 days prior to entering the trial [Note: This level of drinking predicted a positive response to quetiapine in our pilot trial].
• Three consecutive days of abstinence from alcohol, determined by self-reports and confirmed by a negative breathalyzer tests immediately before the day of randomization, and a Clinical Institute Withdrawal Scale for Alcohol (CIWA-AR) {Sullivan, 1989 #97} score below eight on the day of randomization.
• Lives a commutable distance from the TRC and agrees to attend all research visits including follow-up visits.
• Speaks, understands, and prints in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has evidence of dependence on a substance other than alcohol (except nicotine), tests positive on the urine drug screen in the screening week (one retest allowed).
• Has hepatocellular disease indicated by elevations of SGPT (ALT) and SGOT (AST) of at least 4.5 times normal after the required 3 days of abstinence, or elevated bilirubin (>1.3).
• Meets diagnostic criteria for a current unstable or serious psychiatric or medical illness. For example, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder, or organic mental disorder; has serious heart, lung, kidney, immune system, GI tract (ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, or gastrointestinal bleeding) disease.
• Has taken any psychotropic medications (including disulfiram, naltrexone or acamprosate) regularly within the last 2 weeks or needs immediate treatment with a psychotropic medication (with the exception of detoxification medications or benadryl used sparingly for sleep).
• Tests positive on a pregnancy test, is contemplating pregnancy in the next 12 months, is nursing, or is not using an effective contraceptive method if the patient is of child-bearing potential.
• Has known hypersensitivity to antipsychotics.
• Has participated in any investigational drug trial within 30 days prior to the study.
• A history of seizures.
• The presence of cataracts.