Will you be mixing some special, patriotic cocktails for the Fourth of July? You may want to be careful with your drinking if you have light colored eyes-- a new study shows light-eyed people may be at higher risk for developing alcoholism. Researcher Dawei Li with the University of Vermont explains the data shows that among European-Americans, those with light-colored eyes, for example if they're green or gray in the center, have higher rates of alcohol dependency. The link is strongest among those with blue eyes. Li says the reason is unknown, but that scientists do know that the genes that determine eye color are situated along the same chromosome as genes that are known to be linked to alcohol dependency.

Other research has shown that blue eyes also correlate with other attributes, including lower pain tolerance and higher competitiveness. Study leader Arvis Sulovari says the finding could be useful when it comes to diagnosing alcohol dependence, and could potentially help researchers understand the roots of other psychiatric illnesses as well.

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