Alcohol flush reaction

I have several East Asian friends and a curious thing happens to many of them every time they have some alcohol, which is that they turn red on their general face, neck, and chest areas. Apparently, this redness is also accompanied by increased heart rate and temperature, nausea, and dizziness (remember this!). The condition is called ‘Alcohol Flush Reaction’ (AFR), which you may have heard called by its street name ‘Asian Glow’ because it usually happens in people of East Asian descent and is extremely rare in other populations.

Now personally, I have always found it somewhat adorable when it happens to girls but they tend to find it embarrassing. Moreover, there is no way of hiding your consumption of alcohol, which can be problematic if you are trying to pre-game and then going off to party at some club. Chances are the bouncer is going to turn you away, especially if you are a guy.

So, what exactly is this AFR? Read more »