ADH1B*2 alleles have been identified at high frequencies (>60%) in east-Asian populations and at low frequencies (<13%) in European and North African populations (Osier et al., 2002). Meta-analytic studies have indicated a significant association between ADH1B*2 alleles and reduced risk for alcohol dependence in both Asian (Luczak et al., 2006) and European samples (Whitfield, 2002).
