A global study from the researchers from National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of the University of New South Wales, Australia concludes that women have caught up with men in the amount of alcohol they consume.
The study examined the drinking habits between men and women over time, from 1981-2014, by pooling together the results of 68 international studies to look at the changing ratio of male to female drinking over the years. Historically, far more men drink alcohol than women.
It is speculated that women’s drinking has increased for a number of reasons. With more women in management and professional jobs, many have found it necessary to become part of-the “after working” drinking culture. Other contributing factors include the drop in prices for beer and wine which in addition to making them more affordable has increased their availability at super markets. There has also been a targeted effort from the alcohol industry to market to women. It is known that women are more vulnerable than men to the effects of alcohol. According to the Center for Disease Control, differences in body structure and chemistry cause women to absorb more alcohol and take longer to break it down and remove it from their bodies, making it more likely that drinking will cause long-term health problems in women. Heath concerns for women include; reproductive and pregnancy concerns, liver disease, impact on the brain, impact on the heart, and increased risk for certain cancers including cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast.
