Researchers at Duke University say smoking and drinking really do go hand in hand, at least when it comes to people's brains.

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Their new study finds that consuming alcohol, even in very small amounts, appears to enhance the pleasurable effects of nicotine.

The findings provide a scientific explanation for the common observation that bars are generally smoky. The findings also explain statistics showing that alcoholics tend to smoke more than nonalcoholics, and that smokers are more likely to be alcoholics, according to the researchers.

The study, published in the February/March issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research, was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The findings might help explain why those who have quit smoking often relapse while drinking alcohol. Such insights might lead to new smoking cessation methods that take the drugs' interaction into account, said Jed Rose, director of the Duke Nicotine research program and co-creator of the nicotine patch.

The methods would be particularly useful for heavy drinkers and people with an addiction to alcohol, Rose added.

Eighty to 90 percent of alcoholics smoke -- a rate three times that of the general population, he said. Also, 10 times as many smokers are alcoholics than are nonsmokers.

The bottom line for smokers is that if you're trying to kick the habit, avoiding alcohol may make it easier.