Representations of expected relations between self-regulation (SR), depressive symptoms (Dep), and alcohol problems (AP) for each model. College students (N = 393) were measured at five timepoints (i.e., baseline, 1-month, 6-month, 12-month, and 16-month). Support for the self-medication model would result in relations between depressive symptoms at one time point and alcohol problems at the next prospective timepoint, without positing any effect from self-regulation. Support for the depressed regulation model would result in relations between depressive symptoms at one time point and both alcohol problems and self-regulation at the next prospective timepoint. Support for the CNS depressant model would result in relations between alcohol problems at one time point and both depressive symptoms and self-regulation at the next prospective timepoint. Support for the self-regulatory failure model would result in relations between self-regulation at one time point and both depressive symptoms and alcohol problems at the next prospective timepoint.