[jvanderbot]

Well, I'm confused. Something seems off.

Evolutionary pressures / adaptations over 8000 years would just as likely make a population less likely to suffer adverse effects from, for example, alcohol. (see sickle cell tradeoffs in malaria-risky areas). This genetic syndrome you reference makes damage from alcohol 4x more likely over time.

We'd expect long-time drinking societies to have higher alcohol tolerance to better avoid adverse effects of drinking.

[BurningFrog]

To me, an adaptation that makes you avoid something damaging is a great way to make a population less likely to suffer adverse effects from it.

That said, the surviving populations probably also have a higher alcohol tolerance than their sober ancestors. That seems hard to measure though.