[Analysis of flushing response to alcohol and drinking behavior in Japanese male students]

The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between hereditary predisposition and social-psychological factors in terms of drinking behavior of Japanese male students. The subjects were 123 male students who belonged to athletic clubs of K university in 1993. Regular drinking was evaluated as "drinking at home or with intimate friends" and party drinking as "drinking at club parties". On the two drinking occasions, the frequency and amount of drinking, and social drinking behavior were evaluated. Problem drinking behavior was investigated by a modified version of Aoyama's questionnaire (1984). Low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) activity was evaluated by the facial flushing response to alcohol and the ethanol patch test. Evaluable results of the ethanol test as well as replies of the questionnaire were obtained from 109 students. Twenty-three students positive for both the facial flushing response to alcohol and the ethanol patch test were considered to be flushers, and 42 negative for both to be non-flushers. The non-flushers consumed a higher amount of alcohol than the flushers did on drinking occasions at home or with intimate friends. The number of problem drinking behavior items in the non-flushers was significantly higher than that in the flushers and increased with the amount and frequency of drinking. The ratio of students who had inappropriate drinking motivations, began to drink by themselves, or continued to offer alcohol to drinkers showing flushing even when they declined it, was significantly higher in the non-flushers than in the flushers. In addition, non-flushers showing such social drinking behavior drank more than those not showing such behavior. The frequency of positive or inappropriate drinking behavior was significantly lower in the flushers than in the non-flushers. However, the amount and frequency of drinking and problem drinking behavior were similar in the flushers and non-flushers. These results indicate that social drinking behavior of non-flushers influences not only themselves but also other drinkers, and that drinking of flushers is strongly influenced by social factors.