Based on an extensive review of literature in the areas of history, sociology, behavioral psychology, and biology, we help to explain the following: a) Why African Americans are more likely to abstain from alcohol or drink at lower levels compared to European Americans; b) Among individuals who drink, why African American drinkers are more likely to experience negative consequences from drinking compared to European Americans; and c) Which African American subgroup is at the greatest risk for alcoholism and alcohol related problems. In short, African Americans have a long history of abstinence or restricted use of alcohol dating back to African culture, pre-slavery. These practices have been maintained in the present day due to a combination of cultural norms and attitudes toward restricted use, high regard to religious beliefs and customs disapproving of alcohol use, and genetic vulnerability limiting the amount of alcohol necessary to experience the effects of alcohol. Evidence indicates that the negative consequences experienced by African Americans who do consume alcohol are at least in part due to (a) stronger concerns about African American drinking than European
