Noah Vinter
Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for a variety of health conditions and injuries, with over 200 health conditions linked to alcohol consumption. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2019, 35% of women consumed alcohol in the previous 12 months, with an average per capita consumption of 2.2 liters. In the United States, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2023, 65.3% of women aged 18 and older reported drinking alcohol in the past year. While the prevalence of drinking varies globally, with lower rates in North Africa and the Middle East, alcohol consumption among women can lead to unique health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer, liver disease, heart problems, infertility, and pregnancy complications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of women who drink alcohol | 61% in the US |
| Average per capita alcohol consumption by women | 2.2 litres |
| Percentage of women who engaged in heavy drinking | 5.1% |
| Average number of drinks for heavy drinking | More than 7 drinks per week |
| Women with alcohol use disorder | 0.5-5% |
| Women with alcohol dependence | 3.7% |
| Alcohol-related deaths among women | 0.6 million |
| Alcohol-attributable deaths among women | 2.4% |
| Women with alcohol-related problems | Higher than men |
| Women with alcohol-associated hepatitis | More than men |
| Women with alcohol-related heart disease | More than men |
| Women with alcohol-induced brain damage | More than men |
| Women with alcohol-induced blackouts | More than men |
| Women with mental health disorders | More than men |
| Women with alcohol-induced dehydration | More than men |
| Women with breast cancer | More than men |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol use disorders
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common medical condition characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. People with AUD can't stop drinking even when it puts their health and safety at risk and their alcohol use upends their lives and the lives of those around them. AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe, and it encompasses conditions that are sometimes referred to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or alcoholism.
Women who drink alcohol have a higher risk of certain alcohol-related problems compared to men. Research shows that alcohol use and misuse among women are increasing, and women have experienced larger increases in alcohol-related emergency department visits, hospitalisations, and deaths in the past 20 years. Women who regularly misuse alcohol are more likely to develop alcohol-associated hepatitis, a potentially fatal alcohol-related liver condition, than men who drink the same amount.
There is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption for women who are pregnant or might become pregnant. Drinking during pregnancy can cause children to experience physical, cognitive, and behavioural problems and increase the risk of preterm labour.
Childhood physical and sexual abuse and subsequent PTSD are important risk factors for alcohol abuse or dependence in women. Past physical or sexual abuse can complicate treatment and recovery in women because abuse is associated with increased psychiatric symptoms, more complex treatment needs, and poorer treatment outcomes. Women with alcohol dependence are more likely to seek treatment in primary care or mental health settings rather than in alcohol treatment settings. This may be due to the greater stigma associated with alcohol use for women compared to men.
Treatment for AUD may include medication and therapy. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved naltrexone and acamprosate as alcohol use disorder treatments. Topiramate and gabapentin can also decrease cravings in some people. Support groups can help connect people with AUD to others who understand their situation. Studies show that most people with AUD recover, meaning they reduce how much they drink or stop drinking altogether. However, people may relapse due to stressful events and should talk to their healthcare provider if they feel they are at risk of relapse.
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Mental health
Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for a range of health conditions, with over 200 causal links to diseases and injuries. It is also a factor in mental health, and this is an area of particular concern for women. Research has shown that women are more susceptible to the negative consequences of alcohol consumption, and this includes an increased risk of developing mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Women who are problem drinkers are more likely to misuse prescribed and illegal drugs, and this can further compound mental health issues. Alcohol misuse is also linked to a higher risk of suicide, and women are more likely to suffer from alcohol-related heart disease than men, even if they consume less over their lifetime. Women who regularly misuse alcohol are also more prone to developing alcohol-associated hepatitis, a potentially fatal liver condition.
There is a clear link between depression and alcohol use disorder. Studies have shown that in 66% of cases, depression preceded alcohol misuse in women. Trauma and stressful life events can also be a trigger for alcohol misuse, and women may be more susceptible to this. Research has shown that women who use other substances are at a greater risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. For example, one study found that 82% of women in treatment for alcohol use disorder were smokers, compared to 34% of non-sufferers.
Women who drink are also more likely to develop breast cancer, and this risk increases with regular alcohol consumption. Even one drink per day can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer by 5-15% compared to non-drinkers. Alcohol also increases the risk of blackouts in women, as they metabolise alcohol differently to men.
Overall, while alcohol consumption affects the mental health of both men and women, research shows that women are more vulnerable to the negative consequences of drinking, and this includes a higher risk of developing mental health disorders.
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Health risks
Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for a range of health conditions and injuries. Even low levels of alcohol consumption can bring health risks, but most alcohol-related harm comes from heavy episodic or continuous drinking. Alcohol misuse by anyone is a serious public health concern, but women who drink are at a higher risk of certain alcohol-related problems compared to men.
Cancer
Alcohol has been linked to many types of cancer, including mouth, throat, oesophageal, colon, and liver cancer. Women who drink are also more likely to develop breast cancer, and the risk increases with regular alcohol consumption. Research indicates that even 10 to 15 grams of alcohol each day is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Blackouts
Women are more susceptible to alcohol-induced blackouts than men, as they tend to have a higher blood alcohol concentration due to having less water in their bodies. This can also increase dehydration, worsen hangover symptoms, and exacerbate the long-term health effects of chronic alcohol use.
Mental Health
Women are more likely to develop mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression as a result of alcohol use. Alcohol can also disrupt normal brain development during adolescence, and teen girls who binge drink have been found to show worse performance on memory tests and a greater reduction in the size of brain areas involved in memory and decision-making.
Social and Behavioural Risks
Alcohol misuse can lead to social problems, including family issues, unemployment, and financial difficulties. Women who binge drink are at a greater risk of experiencing sexual assault or other types of violence. Alcohol also impairs coordination and judgment, increasing the risk of accidents, such as car crashes.
Other Health Risks
Women who drink heavily are at an increased risk of developing liver disease, heart disease, osteoporosis, and reproductive issues, including infertility. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can also lead to adverse birth outcomes. Additionally, genetics and family history can play a role in the development of alcohol use disorders, with adolescent and young adult females more likely to be influenced by peer drinking and partners who drink heavily.
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Drinking patterns
In the United States, drinking patterns vary slightly by gender, with 66% of men and 61% of women reporting that they drink alcohol. Among adults aged 18 and over, 5.1% engaged in heavy drinking, defined as consuming more than 14 drinks per week for men or more than 7 drinks per week for women in the past year. Non-Hispanic white adults were more likely to engage in heavy drinking than non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian adults.
In 2022, a third of drinkers (34%) in the US reported having no alcoholic drinks in the past seven days, while half (53%) consumed between one and seven drinks, and 12% had eight or more drinks, averaging more than one per day. Beer was the most popular alcoholic beverage, closely followed by wine (35% to 31%), and liquor (30%).
According to the Global alcohol action plan 2022–2030, endorsed by WHO Member States, there is a need to reduce the harmful use of alcohol through effective strategies at various levels. This plan aims to address the health risks associated with alcohol consumption, especially among women, who are more susceptible to alcohol-related problems and negative consequences. Research suggests that women start experiencing alcohol-related issues sooner and at lower drinking amounts than men.
Furthermore, women who regularly misuse alcohol face a higher risk of developing alcohol-associated hepatitis, a potentially fatal liver condition, compared to men consuming the same amount. They are also more susceptible to alcohol-related heart disease and brain damage. Women who drink are at an increased risk of breast cancer, with a 5% to 15% higher chance for those consuming one drink per day compared to non-drinkers. Additionally, drinking during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and increase the risk of preterm labour.
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Alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for a range of health conditions and injuries. It has a causal impact on over 200 health conditions. While men generally consume more alcohol than women, a 2023 study found that alcohol-related deaths are rising faster among women in the United States.
Women are more susceptible to the negative consequences of alcohol consumption. They have lower amounts of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which is needed to break down alcohol. As a result, they are left with higher levels of a substance that is toxic to organs like the liver. Women also have less body water to dilute alcohol, so it becomes more concentrated in their systems. This increases the risk of dehydration, hangover symptoms, and the potential long-term health effects of chronic alcohol use.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there were approximately 59,000 alcohol-attributable deaths among women in the United States in 2020. This made alcohol one of the leading preventable causes of death in the country. The number of alcohol-related deaths among women aged 16 and older continued to rise in subsequent years, increasing by 9.9% in 2021 and decreasing slightly to 105,415 in 2022.
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Frequently asked questions
35% of women consumed alcohol in the last 12 months of 2019.
66.3% of women aged 18 and over consumed alcohol in 2018.
61% of women said they drink alcohol.
63% of women aged 18 and older said they drank alcohol.
53% of drinkers said they had between one and seven drinks in the past seven days.
