Here's a fascinating bit of neuroscience: roughly 8% of the population carries a genetic variation that fundamentally changes how their brain responds to alcohol. In these individuals, a single drink triggers a rapid, intense dopamine surge—that flood of feel-good chemicals hits fast and hard. The result? They can keep going drink after drink, each one lighting up the reward system all over again. While others might feel the buzz fade or hit diminishing returns, these people stay locked in the pleasurable state. It's a stark reminder of how genetic differences wire our nervous systems differently, affecting everything from substance response to reward sensitivity. Not everyone's brain reacts the same way to the same stimulus.