<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Report levels and sex differences in alcohol and tobacco consumption, and sex as a risk factor in alcohol and tobacco use in a sample of Ecuadorian college students. <strong>Methodology:</strong> A descriptive and comparative study applying the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Questionnaire to Classify the Level of Tobacco Consumption in Young People (C4) as assessment tools. <strong>Sample:</strong> 546 college students (69.1% women and 30.9% men), between 17 and 41 years old (<em>mean age</em> = 21.3 years; SD = 2.6) from four universities located in Ambato and Quito cities. <strong>Results:</strong> Consumption of alcohol and tobacco shows low levels among the sample. There are sex differences in alcohol use (t = 5.14; p &lt;.05) and tobacco use (t = 5.6; p &lt;.05), with higher consumption among men. Men are more likely than women to engage in alcohol and tobacco risky use with OR = 2.1; 95% CI [1.45 – 3.11] and OR = 3 95% CI [2.01 – 4.37]. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Alcohol and tobacco use is generalized among the sample and sex is a key factor in both the increase in consumption and further development of risky use.</p>