A linear kinetic analysis of the universal drift mode, valid for arbitrary values of &bgr;( = 8&pgr;p/B2), is presented. The three high‐&bgr; effects on the universal, ∇Bdrifting particles, coupling to the drift Alfve´n wave and compressional magnetic fluctuations are examined in detail. For small values of &bgr;, the drift wave behavior is dominated by coupling to the Alfve´n wave, while for &bgr;∼O(1) the wave behavior is determined by ∇Beffects. For most plasma and wave parameters, the mode is stable for &bgr;i⩾7%. The stabilization mechanism is the Alfve´n induced frequency downshift which reduces the parallel phase velocity of the wave until the (slightly) ∇Bbroadened ion Landau resonance damps the wave. For &eegr;e( = ∂ ln Tc/∂ ln N)≳0, a peculiar case is found where the mode remains unstable for &bgr;i⩽0(50%). This is caused by the ∇Bfrequency upshift coupled with inverse transit time damping.