Analyses then tested the effects of gender, ethnicity (white versus non-white) and smoking status on subjective responses to alcohol (BAES and POMS) and alcohol craving (AUQ). Results revealed no effect of ethnicity on any of the dependent variables. There was a significant alcohol × smoking status effect on stimulation (β = −3.07, SE = 1.36, t = −2.26, p< .05) such that regular smokers reported less stimulation in the alcohol versus placebo condition. As for gender, there was a significant effect on stimulation (β = 6.09, SE = 2.46, t = 2.47, p< .05), vigor (β = 0.29, SE = 0.13, t = 2.17, p< .05), and positive mood (β = 0.35, SE = 0.14, t = 2.58, p< .05) such that female participants reported greater alcohol-induced stimulation, vigor, and positive mood relative to males. Lastly, analyses of observed BrAC at each target level revealed no effect of gender (p = .18), ethnicity (p = .95), genotype (p = .09), or smoking status (p = .84) on BrAC during the active alcohol infusion. See Figure 1 for observed BrAC × Time for both OPRM1 genotype groups.
