Are Brainier People Boozier People?

The New Republic has gathered the facts, and it seems that the more brains rolling around between your ears, the more likely you are to be a drinker. A study of twins by Finnish researchers shows that the twin who begins talking first may have a higher social intelligence and thus, be “more likely to end up in social situations where alcohol is present.”It’s speculative evidence, but a more decisive UK study tracked 50 babies born during one week in March 1958, which found that “kids who scored higher on IQ tests grew up to drink larger quantities of alcohol on a more regular basis than their less intelligent peers.” They were also more likely to experiment with psychoactive substances. Luckily for those of us trying to catch up, some other smart people have figured out how to kill two birds with one stone. [The New Republic]