This report reviews the research on the effects of school-based alcohol education on alcohol related attitudes and behaviors. The introduction comments on the past 10 years of research, and summarizes a drug/alcohol education research paradigm. The findings highlight the inadequacy of research and the persistent failure of programs to influence behaviors. An analysis of 16 recent studies, 1980-1984, on the effects of alcohol education on school age populations is presented. The analysis includes the names of the studies, the populations, the strategies used, control group and testing information, and comments. Research findings are discussed in relation to the impact of alcohol education on knowledge, on attitudes toward alcohol, and on drinking behavior. The effects of person-focused alcohol education programs are discussed also. The report draws two conclusions: recent school-based alcohol education programs have been only marginally more successful than older, more traditional approaches in influencing youthful drinking behavior; and schools may not be the arena for changing attitudes toward alcohol and patterns of consumption. (BL)