It looks like the number of drinks it takes for a person to feel the effects of alcohol is influenced by genetics. The November issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research has published a study linking a gene – specifically KCNMA1 on chromosome 10 — to a person's level of response (LR) to alcohol.

One of the study's most notable findings connects the children of alcoholics to a higher level of response — they have to drink more to feel intoxicated — and a greater risk of alcohol problems later in life.

While holding ones liquor may seem like an enviable attribute, scientists have found that consuming higher levels of alcohol does indeed affect overall health, targeting not only the liver but also immune function and the gastrointestinal system.

[via Eurekalert]