use, consuming fewer drinks per occasion, and reporting fewer alcohol-related problems (Benda, 1997; Brown et al., 2001; Donahue and Benson, 1995; Patock-Peckham et al., 1998). For Hispanics in the United States, acculturation has been identified as a risk factor. A greater degree of acculturation has been associated with increased risk of drinking, alcohol-related problems, and alcohol dependence (Black and Markides, 1993; Caetano et al., 2009; Gil et al., 2000). In addition to sociocultural factors, at least one biological factor has been identified. Up to one quarter of persons of African descent have a variant of the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme, ADH1B*3, which has been found to be protective against alcohol dependence and alcohol-related birth defects (Scott and Taylor, 2007). This variant of the enzyme is generally not found in Whites.
