Relatively little is known about the prevalence of alcoholism or problem drinking among Hispanics in the U.S. Much of what has been reported implies more heavy drinking and alcohol related problems among Hispanics than among most other in the nation. However, these findings primarily deal with Mexican-Americans in the southwestern states and are not generalizable to the mainly Puerto Rican and more diverse Hispanic population in New York City. The ethnic comparison groups for Hispanic adults in New York City are non-Hispanic white and black residents age 18 or oldcr. Alcoholism treatment indicator rates have been computed separately for Hispanics, whites and blacks according to sex. Among possible alcoholism indicators, only treatment sources provide relatively nonequivalent classification of Hispanics, non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks. Treatment data have been obtained for 1980 whenever available since population bases to calculate indicator rates have been compiled from...