Survey research obtained measures of ethnic identity, frequency and style of alcohol use, peer alcohol associations and family sanctions against alcohol. Results of the model analysis revealed that peer alcohol associations significantly predicted alcohol involvement for both males and females, and family sanctions against alcohol were predictive for the females in the sample. Ethnic identity did not predict alcohol involvement, directly or indirectly, for either males or females. The article discusses study results in terms of past theoretical explanations of American Indian youth involvement with alcohol. Findings indicate that: (1) American Indian culture may not contain specific elements that either sanction or condone the use of alcohol; (2) There appears to be a differential influence on alcohol involvement by gender; (3) There is a predominance of peer cluster influence on levels of alcohol involvement for both males and females; and (4) Identification with a culture may have no predictive power, especially as it relates to specific behaviors. Tables, figure, references