In human adults, research has indicated that sons of alcoholics tend to exhibit lower sensitivity to alcohol ingestion than sons of non-alcoholics (Pollock, 1992; Schuckit & Gold, 1988). Moreover, men who demonstrate reduced sensitivity to moderate doses of alcohol, both through measures of motor and cognitive performance and subjective feelings of intoxication, are more likely to become alcohol dependent than men with greater reactivity (Schuckit & Smith, 1997). Although a direct causal relationship has yet to be shown, it is hypothesized that in general, men experience lower alcohol reactivity and therefore face increased risk for problematic drinking because they require more alcohol than their female counterparts in order to feel drunk. Over time, this may contribute to tolerance and subsequent increases in consumption.
