Differences in subjective responses due to family history suggest a role for genes. Genes encoding ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptors are associated with alcohol use disorders (Borghese and Harris, 2012; Covault et al., 2008; Edenberg et al., 2004). SNPs in GABRG1 and GABRA2 have also been associated with various subjective responses to alcohol (Arias et al., 2014; Kareken et al., 2010; Pierucci-Lagha et al., 2005; Ray and Hutchison, 2009; Uhart et al., 2012), and to cues associated with alcohol intoxication (Kareken et al., 2010). Roh et al. used IV alcohol to hold BrAC steady at 50 mg/dL for 165 minutes in 110 moderate-heavy social drinkers and found that adaptive subjective responses to alcohol were affected by a combination of GABRA2 and ALDH2 SNP status (Roh et al., 2011).
