OBJECTIVES: Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has become both a target of intervention and a crucial outcome in evaluating treatment of alcohol dependence. Little has been studied on the factors associated with HRQoL before alcohol dependence treatment. We explored the association between HRQoL and several risk factors including level of alcohol consumption.  METHODS: We used data from CONTROL, an observational cohort study on 143 alcohol dependent patients from Lausanne hospital, Switzerland, followed for 12 months. Average daily alcohol consumption was collected every month and categorised according to the World Health Organisation’s risk levels (WRL) classification: high, medium, low or abstinent. Other measures were collected every three months: HRQoL (SF-36), Beck inventory depression score (BDI) and sociodemographic characteristics. The mean score for each dimension and for the Physical and Mental Component Summary Score (PCS and MCS) were calculated at baseline and at 12-months. Correlates of MCS and PCS were identified using Pearson correlation coefficients and factors associated with change from baseline to 12-months were identified using linear mixed models. RESULTS: At baseline, except for physical functioning, all average SF-36 scores were below those in the general population. The most impaired scores were those with the heavier contribution to MCS. MCS was significantly correlated with BDI, WRL and age. Compared to abstinent patients, difference in MCS scores was significantly lower in patients with medium (difference=-12.9; p<0.005) or high risk (difference=-14.8; p<0.0001) levels whereas no significant difference was observed between abstinent and low risk patients (difference=-7.3; N.S.). Change in MCS from baseline to 12-months was associated with BDI and WRL. No significant association was found with PCS.  CONCLUSIONS: HRQol is significantly in alcohol-dependent patients. The level of alcohol consumption and depression appeared as important drivers of HRQoL related to mental health.