American researchers have discovered that people who cannot tolerate alcohol carry a gene that is found mainly in populations of African origin.
According to the journal Clinical & Experimental Research, some people are able to down drink after drink while others fall asleep after just one glass. The difference between them is the ADH1B*3 gene. This could protect people with an addiction to alcohol.
A person would not be able to continue drinking if it made them too tired. This emerged from a study of 91 young African Americans. Researchers analyzed their behaviour after they had moderately consumed alcohol. Those who dozed off carry the gene in question.
There remain many mysteries surrounding human behaviour toward alcohol. Several factors may play a role, such as education or work, as well as certain other identified genes that interact with the environment. Further studies are therefore still needed.