Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are complex, moderately heritable (50–60%)1–4, psychiatric disorders associated with heightened morbidity, and mortality5. An AUD diagnosis includes aspects of physiological dependence, loss of control over drinking, as well as persistent alcohol intake despite physiological, psychological, and interpersonal consequences6,7. In contrast, typical alcohol intake, as assessed using measures such as drinks per week (DPW), represents the distribution of alcohol use from casual or social drinking to excessive drinking demarcating risk for AUD8,9. While heritable, measures such as DPW are more likely to be influenced by environmental and socio-cultural factors and have complex and variable associations with morbidity and mortality8,9.
