2025.04.27
Are Japanese People Weak to Alcohol?
It is true that Japanese people tend to have a low tolerance for alcohol.
And it’s not just the Japanese. In fact, Asians, specifically the Mongoloid race, are genetically predisposed to have lower alcohol tolerance. But why is that?
Alcohol consumed is broken down and detoxified in the liver by two enzymes: “alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)” and “acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)”.
Among these two enzymes, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase has two types: “ALDH1,” which acts when blood acetaldehyde levels are high, and “ALDH2,” which mainly works when acetaldehyde levels are low. However, some individuals either have a weak “ALDH2” activity or completely lack this enzyme.
Depending on the statistics, it’s estimated that roughly half of Mongoloid individuals have either low alcohol tolerance or cannot drink alcohol at all.
In contrast, among Black and Caucasian populations, the percentage of people with weak or absent ALDH2 activity is essentially 0%. This means that virtually everyone in those groups has strong alcohol tolerance. In English-speaking countries, the phenomenon of turning red when drinking alcohol is sometimes called the “Asian flush,” highlighting how rare it is in Western populations.
It is said that modern humans originated in Africa and later dispersed across the world. Looking at the evolutionary process, it seems natural to conclude that during the migration of early humans out of Africa and the formation of Asian ancestral groups, a genetic mutation occurred, resulting in a population with lower alcohol tolerance.
People who are weak to alcohol or cannot drink might find it stressful when invited to drinking parties or gatherings, but unfortunately, this is something that cannot be changed. While it is said that “alcohol is the best of all medicines,” excessive drinking can harm the body. For those with low alcohol tolerance, it’s better to think positively: “Perhaps it’s a blessing from God to protect me from harming my body with alcohol.”
