One of the difficulties in understanding alcohol use and Latinos has been the practice of aggregating various Latino subgroups into a convenient category. Researchers and policy makers are beginning to examine whether specificity in describing the Latino population enhances the development of culturally appropriate and effective alcohol abuse prevention and treatment services. The literature on Latinos' alcohol abuse discloses several other limitations with important implications for prevention and treatment services: (1) reliance on atypical samples; (2) variation in defining alcohol use, particularly "abstention"; (3) acculturation; (4) poly-substance abuse; (5) age; and (6) gender. The article suggests that more research is needed in several areas, especially the role of acculturation among the various Latino subgroups and alcohol abuse, and the identification of culturally competent service providers. Notes, references