Objective: We examined the within-person associations among positive and ne
gative daily events, positive and negative affect, desire to drink, and alc
ohol consumption in a sample of heavy drinkers. Method: Forty-six subjects
(25 men; mean [SD] age = 47.0 [9.3] years) who were enrolled in an 8-week t
reatment program for heavy drinkers were studied using a daily diary method
ology. Results: Multilevel regression analyses indicated that individuals r
eported stronger desire to drink and greater consumption on days in which m
ore positive and negative nonwork events occurred. Lower levels of desire t
o drink and number of drinks were reported on days with more positive work
events. Negative work events had a marginal positive association with daily
desire to drink. Daily positive and negative affect uniquely predicted gre
ater daily consumption and desire to drink, but only weak evidence was foun
d for their mediating role in the association between daily events and the
criterion variables. Several of the within-person associations among affect
and the criterion variables varied as a function of number of lifetime sym
ptoms of alcohol dependence and treatment condition. Conclusions: These fin
dings generally support the dual-process (i.e., tension-reduction and exper
ience-enhancement) motivational model of alcohol consumption. However, the
observed associations among events. affect and alcohol-related behavior sug
gests that these pathways are complex, with each being comprised of affecti
ve and cognitive subpathways.