A sum of 27 items consisting of both negative consequences associated with drinking and symptoms related to alcohol dependence (consistent with the alcohol dependence syndrome described by Edwards & Gross, 1976) was calculated at each wave (approximately corresponding to ages 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 29, and 35). Items were based on items from the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (Selzer, 1971), and additional items were generated to produce a comprehensive list of negative consequences of alcohol consumption and dependence symptomatology (see Sher et al., 1991; items available upon request). Participants were asked if in the past year they had experienced alcohol-related consequences/symptoms (e.g., “In the past year, have you: Gotten in trouble at work or school because of drinking?”). Internal consistency, as measured by coefficient alpha, was .87 at age 18, .87 at age 19, .89 at age 20, .90 at age 21, .89 at age 25, .90 at age 29, and .90 at age 35.
