The research was initiated because hazard perception latency has been identified as a source of individual differences in road accidents but alcohol's effects on hazard perception has not been addressed thoroughly and because individuals convicted of DWI offenses respond more poorly to hazards than other drink-drivers. The research sample included 32 subjects between 18 and 25 years of age who underwent two experimental conditions in a counterbalanced design--no alcohol and moderate alcohol. Results showed alcohol affected both driving skills and driving styles. With a 0.05-percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC), subjects took longer to detect hazards and responded to them in a more abrupt manner. These effects were particularly pronounced for DWI offenders. Results also supported a distinction between active hazards (hazards arising from the driver's own actions) and passive hazards (hazards arising from the actions of other road users). Irrespective of drink-driving practices, subjects perceived active hazards as less dangerous than passive hazards. Further, compared with other drink-drivers, DWI offenders perceived less risk during passive hazards (with a 0.05-percent BAC) and active hazards (when sober). The authors suggest the effects may underlie, at least in part, the increase in accident risk associated with impaired driving. 19 references, 2 tables, and 2 figures