This study investigated the ability of the MacAndrew Alcoholism (MAC) Scale to distinguish beteen alcoholics and nonalcoholics using self‐ratings from patrons of taverns (N = 128); while only about 14% of the variance in the MAC Scale was accounted for by the self‐rating (alcoholic/nonalcoholic) scale, the MAC Scale correctly identified 70% of those who reported alcohol use to levels consistent with alcoholic dependency after variance in the alcohol use scale attributable to the L and K scales of the MMPI was accounted for.