Hi Bryan,
 BH> I believe environment has a significant effect, but you're
 BH> correct as far as the common thought these days.  I know of one
 BH> "alcoholic-laden" family whose adopted son became an alcoholic. 
 BH> He may have had the predisposition for alcoholism, but the
 BH> environment he grew up in surely componded the likelyhood of
 BH> acquiring that disease.
The evidence on whether there is any hereditary influence on alcoholism is 
conflicting, therefore no-one knows conclusively at this stage.
John
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