To address the third question, which African American subgroup is at the greatest risk for alcoholism and alcohol related problems, we began by examining those risk factors that help explain variability in alcohol use within the African American community. We felt that doing so was crucial; the past emphasis on contrasting African Americans and European Americans provides little information on who is at particular risk within the African American community. We found clear evidence that very low income African American men appeared to be at the highest risk for heavy problematic drinking and, in turn, for experiencing the highest rate of negative problems from drinking. We invoked behavioral choice theory (Rachlin et al., 1986; Vuchinich & Tucker, 1988) to help explain these findings. We theorized that, because these men have restricted or limited access to standard life reinforcers (SLRs), such as adequate employment opportunities, financial stability, adequate housing, and responsibility for health care, they (a) are more likely to pursue the reinforcement associated with heavy drinking and (b) have fewer disincentives for such heavy drinking. We theorized that the high
