The Column #6

Tipsy Gene

Scientists believe they have uncovered a ‘tipsy’ gene that identifies how quickly people feel the effects of alcohol. This gene, known as CYP2E1, affects our sensitivity to alcohol, and US researchers believe 10% - 20% of people have a specific version of this gene that causes them to get drunk easily. The theory is that this gene may offer some protection against alcoholism, because somebody with the gene (and hence a low tolerance) would be less likely to get addicted to alcohol, as they are unable to consume much in the first place.

Russian Alcoholic

We all know someone who gets drunk easily. The person who does all of the embarrassing drunk stuff while everyone else is sober enough to recall it the next day, rendering them a laughing stock on a regular basis. One drink merry and sociable; two drinks loving everything and everyone; three drinks dancing like a lunatic; four drinks sobbing uncontrollably into the barmaid’s bosom; five drinks incoherent and in a taxi home. Equally, we all know someone who is always the last to leave the party. No matter how much booze you ply them with, they simply absorb it and refill their glass. The alco-sponge; the expensive date; the last of the gang to keel over.

The research seems to imply that alcoholism is, at least partly, a genetic issue, however it is important not to lose sight of the mental and social aspects of the disease. Drink itself is highly addictive and erodes the very sensibilities which, when sober, would enable one to decide that enough is enough and go home/to bed or simply stop drinking. Drink is also often used to drown deeper personal issues and can be a catharsis for social dysfunction. It is a friend that appears to ease your troubles, all the while shining its torch into the flawed crevices of your personality, exposing them for all to see.

Comedy drunk, Homer Simpson

Professor Kirk Wilhelmsen, who led the research team in the US, is careful not to pin the blame for alcoholism solely on genetics. “Alcoholism is a very complex disease, and there are lots of complicated reasons why people drink. This may be just one of the reasons”, said the professor, in a statement to the press (source: BBC). The tipsy gene theory does seem to imply that quantity is at the root of the addiction though. However, a person who drinks two pints every day, and gets very drunk due to the function of CYP2E1, is still suffering from the same addiction as somebody who drinks a litre of whiskey a day in order to get their fix. It becomes a cycle that is very hard to break.

Life itself is a cycle, existing at both the macro level (the seven ages of man) and the micro level (daily routines, weekly habits etc.). For the majority of people, the weeks have a conditioned rhythm to them as they race by. Monday morning is generally the depths of despair. The prospect of getting up and embracing the world is about as tempting as a work placement in a Chilean mine. The midweek point is where the balance shifts towards optimism for the coming weekend (and hopefully time to rest), and Friday afternoon is the high point, the weekend has landed and all bets are off until Monday.

It’s fairly common for alcohol to become part of the typical life cycle, but unfortunately for a small minority it dominates the cycle, with everything else taking a back seat (literally, in the case of drink-drivers). For me, the mention of the word quiz reduces me to the human equivalent of Pavlov’s dog, salivating at the prospect of a cool, refreshing pint. The association between enjoying a few beers and the answering of questions has been formed in my mind over time, so that when I think of attending a quiz, my body prepares itself to receive alcohol.

Consequences of drink, George Best

Joking aside, in a 2007 NHS survey (source: NHS), six percent of men and two percent of women in the UK were estimated to be harmful drinkers. Furthermore, there were 6,541 deaths directly related to alcohol that year, a figure which has increased by 19 per cent since 2001. One of the ways that the above research could be used to fight this growing problem is by the creation of drugs that enhance the effect of CYP2E1. A pill or solution could be produced that sensitises people to alcohol before an evening (or in some cases a whole day) of drinking, or even sobers them up when they have had one too many. Quite how it would be administered remains a key question though; it’s hard to imagine alcoholics queuing up to take it.

We live in a world of increasing diminished responsibility. There seems to be a new syndrome discovered every week, and whilst there are many genuine cases, it has created an excuse culture where people don’t have to take responsibility for their actions. If somebody discovers a genetic disorder which affects people’s ability to determine right from wrong, the criminal gene, are they exempt from punishment when they burgle your home or mug you? Does the tax-payer put them up in an expensive rehabilitation centre instead? The CYP2E1 research represents a great step forward in the battle against alcoholism, but it will only be effective alongside a program of treatment from Addaction or one of the other excellent rehabilitation services available. The choice always lies with the individual.