Wellness Center - Beer Free Zone

Drinking and Women

Okay ladies, it’s time for some straight talk. We know that partying with the guys is a way to get their attention, have fun, and show them that we can match them drink for drink

I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but drinking while female has many drawbacks. If you drink moderately, meaning one drink per hour and/or no more then one drink per day, then you’re okay.

But when you’re drinking too much in a short period of time or drinking too much every day it catches up with you in a bad way. In fact, in some areas of your life and health, drinking can hit women harder then men. For example, having more than 2 or more drinks a day has been connected to increased risk for breast cancer. Drinking too much alcohol can also make you do things you wouldn’t normally do (like make out with a guy you don’t know very well) and make you more vulnerable to physical or sexual attack.

So watch out! Drinking safely is not dumb or boring. It’s the smart way to have fun and not have to deal with the consequences of one alcohol induced bad idea for the rest of your life.

If you want help on how to steer clear of peer pressure click on the link in this Beer Free Zone called “What to say if someone is trying to force you to take a drink or play a drinking game.”

Meanwhile check out some of the effects of drinking on women:

Physical Effects

Women absorb and metabolize alcohol differently than men

Women will have higher Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) after consuming the same amount of alcohol as men
Therefore, women experience the adverse physical effects of drinking quicker then men and at lower drinking rates

Lower BAC in women is related to women having less water in their bodies than men.

A woman’s brain and other organs are therefore, exposed to more alcohol than men, increasing risks for

Liver damage
High blood pressure & heart disease and
Breast cancer

Women experience worse hangovers than men

Possible Sexual and Physical Consequences

Especially on college campuses, the following are more likely among students who drink heavily:

Unwanted sexual attention.
Sexual assault.
Unprotected sex.
Sexually transmitted disease.
Unwanted / unplanned pregnancy

Over half of sexual assaults among college students involve alcohol.

While the number of alcohol related fatal traffic accidents involving men are decreasing, those involving women are INCREASING.

Female alcoholics are 50 to 100 times more likely to die than male alcoholics (including deaths from suicides, motor vehicle accidents, heart disease and liver disease).

Social Effects

Forty-Seven percent of women who used substances have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual trauma.

Women who drink heavily experience more moderate to extreme levels of violent conflict with their partners.

Some women report being initiated into drug use by male partners.

Some women report fear that quitting would bring punishment from male partners.

Women are more likely to drink in solitude.

Women are less likely to seek help or treatment.