Young people who have a low response to alcohol often become alcoholics later in life, researchers say.

The Australian reported Sept. 11 that a study of 453 men conducted over a 25-year period found that those who could drink their peers under the table as youths later became alcoholics because they had to drink more to get intoxicated -- which is why young people drink.

"A low response to alcohol is related to a higher alcoholism risk. We are now trying to find the genes -- and there may be many -- that affects a level of response," said researcher Mark Schuckit of the University of California. "Many of the people who later became alcoholic said that in their early days they could drink anyone under the table. They don't realize what is happening to them because they hang around people who drink like they do. It can be difficult for them to realize the troubles they are developing."