Alcohol and Women

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• An estimated 5.3 million women in the United States drink in a way that threatens their health, safety, and general well-being. Women may be at risk if they drink more than 7 drinks per week or occasionally drink 4 or more drinks in a single day.
• Alcohol appears to have different physiological effects on women and men. Females generally experience higher levels of intoxication with the same amounts of alcohol, and have variations in response to alcohol during the course of their menstrual cycle.
• Women appear more susceptible to alcohol-related illness than men and can develop alcohol-related illnesses from exposure to lower levels of alcohol and from shorter periods of heavy drinking than men.
• Women who drink are prone to liver disease, heart disease, reduction in brain size, and neurological impairment. Women who consume more than 2 drinks per day appear more likely to develop breast cancer, hypertension, stroke, infertility, and miscarriage.
• Females with problematic alcohol use may report significantly greater depression, anxiety, neuroticism, and health-related stressful events compared to their male counterparts.
• Women who drink excessively appear more likely to be a target of violence and sexual assault. On college campuses, assaults, unwanted sexual advances, and unplanned and unsafe sex appear more likely among females who drink four or more drinks in a row.
• Women who drink alcohol may also pose a serious risk for their children. Drinking during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome in their child, which is characterized by growth and mental impairment. Drinking while taking care of children can also expose children to injuries and/or neglect.