Despite the success of GWAS of alcohol use (Figure 4) the mechanisms by which these newly identified genetic associations exert their effects are largely unknown. More importantly, alcohol consumption and misuse (core traits associated with development of AUD) appear to have distinct genetic architectures (Table 1, Figure 3). Ever-larger studies, particularly those extending mere alcohol consumption phenotypes, are required to find the genetic variants that contribute towards the transition from normative alcohol use to misuse, and development of AUD.
