Six and seventh graders in 22 New York City schools participated in the study. Hispanic students completed self-report questionnaires at two assessments (n=1,295 at baseline; n=1,034 at 1 year follow-up). The questionnaire included items related to alcohol use and linguistic acculturation. Language spoken with friends was related to alcohol initiation and the amount consumed at both assessments and drunkenness at the 1-year follow-up. Specifically, a greater proportion of bilingual adolescents engaged in drinking than more acculturated adolescents. These relationships were found for alcohol initiation for boys and girls at both assessments and alcohol consumed for boys at baseline and for girls at the 1-year follow-up. Language spoken with parents was related to alcohol initiation and drunkenness at the 1-year follow-up. A higher proportion of bilingual students tried alcohol and had been drunk than less acculturated students. Within gender, these relationships were found only for boys. Consequently, bilingual Hispanic youth apparently were at greater risk of alcohol use and drunkenness. 2 tables and 30 references