Excessive alcohol consumption was responsible for 33 million deaths in 2012. According to a study conducted by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, there may be a gene that some people possess that explains why some people are able to say no to alcohol more easily. The gene is called beta-Klotho. In the study, some mice were genetically engineered to not have the gene, which caused them to like alcohol more than the mice with the gene. People with and without the gene were then observed to determine their drinking habits and showed the same results.