Relationship between the flushing response and drinking behavior among Japanese high school students.

In a study of the relationship between the flushing response and drinking behavior, the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale was used to survey 932 male and female Japanese high school students identified by the ethanol patch test as flushers (338; 36.3%) and nonflushers (594; 63.7%). The goal was to clarify whether the flushing response inhibits adolescent drinking. Students with the flushing response reported drinking significantly less than nonflushers with respect to both frequency and amount. Although the flushing response was associated with less drinking, the flushers and nonflushers had similar drinking partners and reasons for drinking, and their total Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale scores did not differ significantly. The survey showed that many flushers were seeking the pleasures of alcohol despite the discomforts it caused, suggesting that Japanese adolescents need more education on the risks of adolescent drinking.