About Alcoholism - Alcoholism Information, Research and Treatment

A study of twins in Finland reported by Juha Partanen of the Finnish Foundation of Alcohol Studies showed that there was a hereditary component in such traits related to drinking as amount consumed per drinking occasion, frequency of drinking, and abstinence. Similar indications were observed in connection with coffee-drinking and smoking. On the other hand, none of the variables describing symptoms of alcoholism, such as ability to control one's drinking, social complications resulting from drinking, or arrests for drunkenness, showed a significant degree of heritability.