Two university staff led focus group sessions. Sessions were conducted on each campus after school hours and lasted approximately 1 hour, and the confidentiality of participants was assured. All discussions were taped and subsequently analyzed. Questions focused on components of the authors' conceptual model: alcohol use, drinking norms, sources of alcohol used by youth, and drinking settings. Standard techniques for analyzing focus group results were used. Focus group findings confirmed baseline survey results on youth alcohol sources. Alcohol was readily available to the youth, and adults 21 years of age or older were the most common source of alcohol consumed by participants. Participants believed that it was less risky to ask an older adult to obtain alcohol than to attempt to purchase it themselves or obtain it from other sources. Participants' expectations about enforcement of underage drinking laws also were low. Perhaps youth use certain alcohol sources when they perceive that alcohol is readily available and the personal and social risks of obtaining it are low. Study limitations are noted. 1 figure, 2 tables, and 17 references