The Effects of Alcohol on Women

The effects of alcohol are stronger in women than in men, and women who drink too much alcohol are more likely to suffer from significant alcohol problems than men, studies show. In addition, women who have alcohol problems have higher death rates due to suicide, accidents, and other health related issues — more than twice the rate of men. Given these facts, you may be wondering: Why do women drink, and what can you do to enjoy alcohol without risks to your health?
Understanding Why Women Drink

Women drink for many of the same reasons that men drink: to relax, to gain confidence in social situations, to get to sleep, and to relieve stress.

Other reasons why women may drink alcohol include the following:
Women are more likely to drink if they have problems with a loved one.
Alcohol problems are more common in women who are unmarried, divorced, or separated.
Women whose husbands have alcohol problems are more likely to drink themselves.
Women who have been sexually abused are more likely to drink to excess.
Women may start out drinking more. Seventeen percent of ninth grade girls admit that they had more than five drinks at one time in the past month. This is a higher rate of drinking than for boys of the same age.