Background: According to the theory of reasoned action, both positive social and outcome expectancies of drinking increase motivation/intention to drink and hence the likelihood of hazardous drinking. This study aims to examine the relative effects of specific types of drinking expectancies in university students, who are vulnerable to hazardous drinking, for effective intervention. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an anonymous questionnaire in a student sample (N=1356) at two public universities in China was conducted. Basic demographics, hazardous drinking (by Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test- Consumption [AUDIT-C]), social expectancy, outcome expectancy (sociability, tension reduction, liquid courage, sexuality, cognitive and behavioural impairment, risk and aggression, self-perception), and drinking motivations were assessed. Only those with past-year drinking experience (72%) were included in the data analysis of this study. Findings: Except negative types of outcome expectancy, all cognitive and motivational variables were significantly and positively correlated with hazardous drinking (r=.18 to .43; p<.001). In path analysis, social expectancy and drinking motivations were shown to have significant direct effects on AUDIT-C (p<.01), while positive types of outcome expectancy exerted significant indirect effects. Social expectancy (parents), courage, tension reduction, and sociality hade relatively stronger effects (Standardized total effect=.05-.21). Discussion: Our findings suggested that negative consequences of drinking were well aware by university students but did not help keeping them away from hazardous drinking. Future interventions should focus on altering their favorable drinking norms or consequences perceived, which are positively associated with drinking motivation as well as hazardous drinking.