Low levels of brain chemical drives mice to drink

New animal research, published last week, may help to explain why some individuals crave alcohol more than others. Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle have found a causative link between the level of a particular molecule in a mouse's brain and the drinking habits of the mouse.

The molecule involved--neuropeptide Y--has already attracted the attention of drug companies because of its suspected effects on appetite and anxiety. But these new findings will draw extra …