The sample included 68 women and 64 men, 21 years of age or older, who read one of four stories in which only the victim, only the assailant, both victim and assailant, or neither victim nor assailant consumed alcohol. An individual difference trait involving rape attitudes was also measured. The interaction of victim and assailant drinking diminished the view that a rape had occurred and that the victim responded negatively, whereas drinking enhanced judgments of the assailant's likability and sexuality. The portrayal of only the victim drinking resulted in a more negative view of the assailant's behavior and traits. Evaluations of the victim depended on the assailant's drinking behavior rather than on her own behavior. In general, acquaintance rape was not judged as severely when both members of a dating couple consumed alcohol as when only the woman drank. Implications of the findings for rape victim treatment and assailant accountability are discussed. 12 references