In summary, this work provides the first evidence for an association between SNPs in CHRNA6 and CHRNB3 with quantitatively measured alcohol-related behaviors. This finding is an extension of the existing literature using pharmacological experiments and animal models which has shown that alcohol modulates the binding properties of nicotine at nAChRs. Additional work will be necessary to tease apart whether this finding is dependent on smoking status and whether it can be replicated in other samples. Ultimately, studies aimed at understanding the putative functional mechanisms of these SNPs will be key to drawing strong conclusions about their possible roles in alcohol and tobacco co-morbidity.
