The first step in the current stage of this work was to determine if a lower LR related to future heavier drinking and alcohol problems (Hypothesis 1) in a manner consistent with prior work (e.g., Chung & Martin, 2009; Quinn & Fromme, 2011; Schuckit et al., 2007, 2008; Volavka et al., 1996). The results using a baseline continuous measure of LR revealed that the lower the intensity of reaction during the alcohol challenge, the higher the follow-up maximum drinks and the greater the number of alcohol problems (see Table 2). These two outcomes have been more consistently related to earlier LR than drinking frequency or usual drinks per occasion in prior studies. The fact that a median LR split did not identify those findings may reflect the limited power of dichotomous measures.
