Drinking patterns among the Navaho Indians have shown little change since 1941 despite the repeal of Federal and state prohibition laws applicable to Indians during that time. The nature of the drinking population and the composition of the drinking groups remain unchanged. Most of the Navaho drink occasionally and drinkers constitute a representative cross section of the tribe. Drinking is a social act taking place in small groups usually comprised of close relatives. The annual periodicity of drinking is much as it had been, most drinking occurring in summer and autumn, times of festive outing associated with drinking. Effects and degrees of inebriety are similar to those in 1941, ranging from relaxed conviviality to violent aggressiveness, and often terminating in drunken stupor. The treatment of inebriety remains unchanged, there being little attempt to offer care or solace to the helpless inebriate, and it is considered preferable to ignore the state of inebriety whenever possible. Postrepeal drinkers give the same rationale for drinking, "to feel-good" or "just to get drunk," as did their counterparts during prohibition; and attitudes toward drinking and drunkenness have altered little, the predominant view being that drinking is one''s own business as long as it does not interfere in his relations with others. In a few aspects of drinking behavior, however, new patterns can be discerned. Since the repeal of prohibition the Navaho are able to acquire liquor from normal retail outlets, and a new beverage, beer, has gained popularity. Navahos now drink in places, such as bars and restaurants, where they could not have drunk before and they have adopted a different manner of drinking in these new contexts. Each of these innovations, however, consists of the development of new variant patterns, while the old patterns which were characteristic during prohibition have remained predominant.