Alcohol abuse is a global problem, constituting the seventh leading risk factor for death and disability (1). Worldwide, over 100 million people had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2016. Statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that >85% of adults in the United States report ever having consumed alcohol, with >25% reporting binge drinking in the past month (2). The proportion of adults in the United States with an AUD is estimated to be 6.2% (2). Alcohol use behaviors are complex, and how and why people drink is partially influenced by genetic factors. However, identifying the genetic factors that increase the risk for harmful drinking has been challenging, partially because patterns of alcohol use are dynamic across the lifespan. The terms used to describe alcohol use and abuse are as diverse as the behaviors themselves. Hazardous drinking describes heavy drinking that places an individual at risk for future harm. Harmful drinking and alcohol abuse are defined as drinking that causes mental or physical damage to the individual. These descriptive terms were devised to identify individuals
