Alcohol and women
In general alcohol has a greater effect on women compared to men. This is because, on average, women’s bodies have 10% more fat and therefore less fluid to dilute alcohol, so the body alcohol concentration is significantly higher. In addition women generally weigh less than men and therefore have less tissue to absorb alcohol. Women also often have lower levels of liver enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (AHD) and so alcohol is metabolised more slowly and remains in the body longer.
Social attitues towards heavy drinking in women are often negative as it conflicts with the ideology of women and motherhood as being self-denying and nurturing of men and children. This attitude is particularly apparent when aggressive behaviour accompanies intoxication. Social sanctions against women are also generally greater e.g. alcohol dependant women are more likely than alcohol dependant men to be deserted by their spouses. This negative view of female problem drinking presents as a barrier to many women needing treatment for their drinking problems.
In the UK 86% of adult women drink alcohol. The mean weekly reported alcohol consumption for women is 6.4 units. Almost half of UK women (47%) drink at least weekly and 13% drink at least 5 days per week. Almost a quarter (21%) drinks over 3 units a day, at least once a week. Approximately half a million UK women (2%) drink at very risky levels i.e. over 36 units per week.
The percentage of women drinking more than 14 units weekly increased from 10% in 1988 to 15% in 1998. Women living in the North West are most likely to exceed the daily limits, with 14% of North West women drinking over 3 units at least once in the previous week and 11% drinking over 6 units. Women in Scotland are most likely to drink over 6 units on one day (i.e. 12%).
Women from professional households are more likely to drink regularly than women from unskilled manual households (i.e. 72% compared to 40%). In addition 33% of full time working women drink 3 or more units at least once a week compared to 17% of women who are economically inactive.
Research into drinking in different UK ethnic groups found that 90% of Pakistani women abstain compared with 83% of Bengali women, 80% of Hindu women and 75% of Sikh women. Furthermore, Irish women are more likely to abstain from alcohol than English or Welsh women.
The age of women is a major factor in determining levels of consumption and patterns of drinking. The mean weekly consumption of women aged 16 to 24 years is 10.6 units, compared to 3.3 units for women aged over 65 years. Of 25 to 44 year olds, 11% reported regularly drinking on 5 or more days per week, compared to 16% of 45 to 64 year olds.
Drinking patterns amongst women may be influenced by factors such as social isolation, financial hardship and the stress of juggling work and domestic demands. Alcohol use may be particularly attractive to women with poor self-confidence and low self-esteem, especially amongst those with a history of sexual abuse. Advertising and promotion targeted at women may also be influential. Other common factors associated with heavy drinking include a family history of problem drinking, poor impulse control during childhood, early use of nicotine, poly-drug use, separation/divorce, difficulties in coping with stressful events, depression and sexual difficulties. In addition, drinking may also be exacerbated both by the loss of a partner and by the start of a new relationship with a heavy drinking partner.
Many women respond to social pressure to drink and those who regularly socialise within a drinking context often drink more heavily. A Manchester study of lesbian women closely involved with the gay ‘scene’ of revealed significant numbers of young gay women with alcohol problems.
Research into purchasing patterns reveals that women usually buy their alcohol from supermarkets and in comparison to men, are much less likely to purchase alcohol in licensed bars (21% compared to 45%).
