Study Links Finger Length Ratios to Alcohol Consumption Patterns

Research suggests prenatal hormone exposure affects drinking behaviors, with stronger effects observed in men.

A new study published in the American Journal of Human Biology explores how the 2D:4D finger length ratio, influenced by prenatal testosterone and estrogen exposure, correlates with alcohol consumption patterns.
Researchers from Swansea University and the Medical University of Lodz found that individuals with longer ring fingers relative to index fingers tend to consume more alcohol and exhibit higher risks of problematic drinking behaviors.
The study involved 258 university students and used precise caliper measurements of finger lengths alongside the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to assess drinking habits.
Men showed stronger correlations between lower 2D:4D ratios and alcohol consumption, with right-hand measurements being more predictive than left-hand ones.
The findings highlight prenatal hormone exposure as a potential factor in individual differences in alcohol use, though researchers emphasize this is a population-level trend and not a deterministic predictor for individuals.