Comparing with other studies, our findings have some similarities and dissimilarities. First, this is the first GWA meta-analysis of MaxDrinks as a continuous phenotype. Meta-analysis would provide more power to identify SNP associated with MaxDrinks. Our results provide support for the findings of several genetic linkage analyses for alcohol consumption or AD. In our study, we used a meta-analysis and GWA on two population samples with approximately 1 million SNPs each and discovered associations of SNPs with significant p-values on chromosomes 3p24.3, 5q23.1, 4q26, 8q13.2, 2q24.1 and 7p12.2, which covered most of the reported chromosomes from the previous linkage analysis of MaxDrinks (Saccone et al., 2000; Saccone et al., 2005). Second, we performed a family-based analysis of the OZALC family dataset for replication and successfully replicated a number of SNPs. Third, through GWA studies and meta-analysis we found six genes/regions (SGOL1, DTWD2, NDST4, KCNB2, NR4A2 and DDC) significantly associated with MaxDrinks. Furthermore, these genes/regions were partially confirmed in a family-based analysis of the OZALC sample. However, one limitation of this study is the family sample that we used for the
