My father had gout flair ups - and I have gout flair ups. My 24 year old son not yet. Maybe he won't have the problem. In my book, it is definitely genetic. My father never drank and was in decent health (e.g., weight, etc.). I'm in pretty good health (e.g., weight, exercise, etc.) but if I don't take Allopurinol, I get the the flair ups. As far as I've been able to tell, the affliction runs in my father's side of our family. I've always been told through family lore that it was too much inbreeding back a while ago - similar to other European families. Naturally I hope not.
I thought I remember reading other papers decades ago about “close families” and gout. Not just a rich lifestyle...
Being a little dehydrated, like in mid summer or deep winter when i don’t feel the need to constantly hydrate, seems to bring on attacks quite easily.