The prospective associations between negative life events (NLEs) and adolescent alcohol use was examined using the Youth Asset Study. Participants (n = 1040 adolescents, mean age = 15.8 years) completed annual interviews which included a life events scale and alcohol use in the last 30 days. Family structure and parent education were assessed as confounders. For the youngest group, each NLE increased the odds of alcohol use the next year compared to those with no events (ORs 1.66, 2.43, 2.65). For the middle age group, one or more NLEs doubled the odds of alcohol use the next year (ORs 2.01, 2.03, 2.05). A simple life events checklist can be a useful tool to assess an increased risk of future alcohol use in adolescents.