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The article explores alcohol expectations among Mexican-American women utilizing the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire and a series of quantity/frequency alcohol use measures. The results indicate that Mexican-American women generally have similar expectations about the benefits of alcohol use as women in the larger population. Within the sample of Mexican-American women however, there were differences in alcohol expectations based on occupational status and acculturation level: those Mexican-American women who are more acculturated and hold higher professional status occupations have higher expectations of the benefits of alcohol use than less acculturated Mexican-American women in blue-collar or service occupations.

As research disciplines differ from each other in terms of their epistemological and theoretical assumptions, they differ in the kinds of data they produce. This paper discusses the particular perspectives and methods that anthropologically produced data contribute to a biopsychosocial paradigm of alcohol use/pathology. Strategic uses of qualitative research approaches are suggested, and situations in which qualitatively produced data would be especially useful in the design and delivery of alcohol-related services are identified.

Hispanic groups, taken together, constitute nearly 9% of the U.S. population. Research undertaken in the last decade has demonstrated that segments of the Hispanic male population are particularly heavy drinkers and are at high risk for alcohol-related problems. This article reviews several of the most important studies of alcohol use and its consequences among Hispanics, and reports new data from a study of alcohol use and its correlates among 452 young adult men and women in Los Angeles. The findings show important differences between immigrants and U.S.-born Hispanics as well as clear gender differences in terms of alcohol use patterns, expectations about the benefits of alcohol consumption, and depressive symptomatology associated with the use of alcohol. These differences have implications for the design of prevention and treatment services for Hispanics and these are discussed.