Table 2.

Suggestions for the further development of consumption phenotypes in a manner that enhances consilience

Consumption phenotype development goal	Suggestions for future research
Further development of abstinence/ decision to drink or abstain phenotypes	Models of abstinence should be enhanced in both animal and in human research. At minimum, the percentage of participants deciding not to drink in human alcohol self-administration studies should be reported. Models of the decision to drink despite adverse consequences should be created for both humans and animals.
Modeling/reporting of heavy or binge drinking, in contrast with light or moderate drinking	Animal researchers should continue to establish levels of drinking in various species to parallel important levels established for human subjects. At minimum, the percentage of participants who exceed heavy drinking cut-offs in laboratory studies should be reported to increase correspondence with clinical/epidemiological phenotypes.
Model alcohol use within 24-hour periods, over several days and over the long-term	Alcohol use occurring over several days is modeled in animal research, however greater attention should be paid to patterns of consumption occurring within drinking periods of 24 hours or less. Human laboratory models with drinking opportunities provided over consecutive days should be developed. Prospective follow-up of participants in human studies (and animal research) could be incorporated to examine the predictive utility of early patterns of drinking.
Enhancement of BAC and other biomarker phenotypes	Further research is needed in humans and animals. Nonintrusive sensors that would deliver accurate BAC readings in clinical and epidemiological studies and noninvasive measures for animal studies would be particularly useful.

Consumption phenotypes in bold