A LOVE of alcohol is in the genes, a study has found.
The four types of alcohol are ethyl, denatured, isopropyl and rubbing. The one that we know and love the best is ethyl alcohol, also called ethanol or grain alcohol. It’s made by fermenting sugar and yeast, and is used in beer, wine, and liquor. Ethyl alcohol is also produced synthetically.
It means hellraisers such as late film star Ollie Reed were born to be wild for the booze.
Researchers found that people’s favourite food and drink tastes are influenced by their genes as well as their habits and childhood.
DNA even helps determine a drinker’s preferred tipple, whether it is a glass of wine or a drop of the hard stuff.
Study author Prof Jim Wilson, of Edinburgh University, said: “Some people are absolutely born with genes that will make them like the taste of alcohol.
“More than that, we even found genes that gave preferences for specific drinks like white wine, beer or whisky.
“The household you grow up in influences the foods and tastes you like but this shows a significant proportion of it is due to genes you’re born with.”
He added: “There is a whole category of strong-tasting things like olives and alcohol that babies typically don’t like, but many adults learn to like them — our next job is to work out why.”
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, asked 161,625 Brits to rate 139 different foods.
Experts grouped those who liked the same to see if they had similar genetics.
The genes and tastes linked together in three clear groups — with one much more likely to smoke or booze too much.
English actor Ollie, who died aged 61 in 1999, was famed for his drinking exploits.
But around one in five adults in England drinks so much that it puts their health at risk, latest NHS figures show.
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