Ethnic variation in use and effects of alcohol.

Americans living in Hawaii were questioned about their use of alcoholic beverages. Although alcohol use was widespread in all ethnic groups included in the study, comparisons among groups showed that (a) a larger proportion of Orientals than Caucasians reported no use of alcohol, (b) Caucasians reported heavier use, and (c) a larger proportion of Oriental users reported facial flushing as a sequel to alcohol consumption. Persons with one Oriental and one Caucasian parent were intermediate with respect to (a) and (b), but were more similar to Orientals on (c). Other symptomology reported appeared to be associated with amount imbibed, not with ethnicity per se. Compared to current users, former users reported a larger number of problems and symptoms associated with alcohol use.