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Hispanic groups are often aggregated when examining adolescent drinking. The objective of this study was to determine the roles of Hispanic group (Puerto Rican versus Dominican) and gender in alcohol use among inner-city youth. Sixth and seventh graders in 22 New York City schools who identified themselves as Puerto Rican or Dominican completed self-report questionnaires at two assessments (N = 849 at baseline; N = 678 at 1-year follow-up). Dominican adolescents generally engaged in more alcohol use than Puerto Rican adolescents. In a number of cases, gender moderated the effect of Hispanic group on drinking. Specifically, Dominican boys reported greater use than Dominican girls, but use was similar across gender for Puerto Rican adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of considering Hispanic group and gender when examining adolescent drinking.

Research on ethnic group differences has suggested that (a) adolescents from various groups differ on a number of dimensions that have been related to risk for substance use initiation, and (b) adolescents of different groups choose different substances. However, there is little consensus regarding the reasons for such differences. There is an especially high rate of alcohol use among Hispanic adolescents, and Hispanics are at high risk for alcohol abuse. In light of ethnic group differences in both substance use and the precursors of substance use in adolescence, this study examined differences among black, Anglo, Puerto Rican, and Dominican adolescents in the relation between cigarette and alcohol use and psychosocial functioning. Comparisons between the Puerto Rican and Dominican subjects were of special interest due to preexisting differences between these groups that may be attributed to acculturation. Results provided evidence of the importance of acculturation in modifying psychosocial vulnerability, especially for alcohol use, with the Dominican group at highest risk.