Maternal exposure to viruses and related immunogens can have deleterious effects on neurodevelopment and lead to an increased risk of several psychopathologies, such as schizophrenia. Alcohol use disorder is more prevalent among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. Here, we exposed pregnant rats to the viral analogue poly IC and studied several features of alcohol use disorder in the offspring, including increased motivation, compulsivity, and preference for ethanol over an alternative reward (saccharine). Prior to these experiments, we assessed several psychological processes related to drug use disorders, such as gambling-related decision-making patterns and novelty preference, among others. During the acquisition of operant ethanol self-administration, progressive ratio, or compulsive seeking tasks, we observed no differences related to poly IC exposure or the sex of the animals. However, contrary to our expectations, poly IC-exposed rats showed less preference for ethanol during the preference test, regardless of sex. In our studies assessing psychological traits related to substance use disorders, we found that poly IC-exposed males exhibited decreased goal-tracking behaviour and more disadvantageous decision-making patterns, again regardless of sex. Finally, our correlational studies indicate that exposure to poly IC in utero disrupts the normal correlations between goal tracking and advantageous decision-making in females. Our results suggest that maternal immune activation may affect decision-making, goal-tracking, and alcohol preference in divergent ways, highlighting the need for further studies to fully characterize these phenomena. Funded by Plan Nacional sobre Drogas 2012I039 and EXP2022/008739 grants.