Adolescent offspring of alcoholics have been found to have higher alcohol reinforcement expectancies than do teenagers from nonalcoholic families. In particular, those with a positive family history of alcoholism expect more cognitive and motor enhancement with alcohol consumption. This study examined the alcohol expectancies of 58 matched pairs of young adult males from alcoholic and nonalcoholic families to ascertain whether a similar expectancy pattern exists and the degree to which expectancies can differentiate family history groups. All subjects completed a questionnaire on demographic background; drinking history; personal and family psychiatric history; and past history of medical, drug, and alcohol related life problems. Subjects also completed a shortened version of the Alcohol Expectancy Question. The results indicated that even when individually matched on demographic and drinking pattern variables, men with alcoholic fathers expect slightly more reinforcement from alcohol, particularly in the realm of sexual enhancement, than did peers with no alcoholic family members. The discriminant function analysis using expectancy items as predictors correctly classified 71% of the men from alcoholic facmilies and 85% of men from nonalcoholic families. Theoretical and research implications of these findings are discussed. (Author/NB)