DIFFERENCES IN ASIAN AND WHITE DRINKING - CONSUMPTION LEVEL, DRINKINGCONTEXTS, AND EXPECTANCIES

Despite the heterogenous nature of interethnic drinking differences wi thin racial groups, research has demonstrated that cautious generaliza tions can be made when comparing Asian and White drinking patterns. Pe rsons in the United States who identify their race as ''Asian'' drink much less than their White counterparts, and they report fewer problem s. Some have speculated that drinking patterns between racial groups a re mediated by culturally influenced social learning. To date there ha s been very little research examining the expectancy of reinforcement from drinking between different racial, cultural or ethnic groups. The current study of 637 white and 179 Asian university students examined differences in alcohol consumption and problem levels, the social con text of drinking, and alcohol expectancies. Results show considerable differences between Asian and White drinking and level of associated p roblems, as well as similarities and differences in social drinking co ntexts. It also appears that Asians expected greater tension reduction from drinking despite drinking less overall. Implications for further research are suggested that would link racial, and more specifically, ethnic drinking differences with culturally defined alcohol expectanc ies.