Married individuals typically drink less heavily than those who are divorced, separated, or who have never been married (Chilcoat & Breslau, 1996; Temple et al., 1991). Being part of a stable couple often leads to new social constraints, including fewer social activities and greater disapproval of heavy drinking, that may partially mediate marriage-related reductions in alcohol consumption (Leonard & Eiden, 2007). Consequently, marriage may reduce the expression of genetic risk for AUDs by fostering new social and financial (e.g., children, home ownership) responsibilities that discourage heavy drinking.
