Drinking Facts
When Women Drink Too Much
A woman may drink less than a man but get intoxicated faster than a man.
If a woman drinks like the boys, she’s subjecting herself to twice the effects from the same amount of alcohol.
Because of a woman’s smaller bodies, lower water volume and higher percentage of body fat, alcohol stays in her body for a longer period of time than in a man’s.
Making smart decisions
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Source: Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. 2006. Women under the influence. p. 62. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press. |
When a woman parties, sex and drinking may often go together, even if she didn’t plan for it to happen that way.
A woman may feel pressured to become involved in sex and drinking before she is really comfortable doing so.
It’s smart for her to stop drinking to learn more about protecting herself when she drinks.
Or, maybe she has already experienced negative events related to drinking.
It’s smart for her to decide to take a break until she feels ready to avoid the risks and handle the responsibilities of having sex and/or drinking.
A woman has several options to reduce her risks when drinking:
- Choosing to avoid sex is the only 100% sure way to avoid getting pregnant or getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
- Choosing not to drink reduces the possibility of getting into unsafe situations or engaging in risky behaviors.
- Choosing to use safe and effective birth control, including condoms every time she has sex, will reduce her risks for unintended pregnancy and STIs.
- Choosing to drink at safer levels will reduce the possibility of making poor decisions that result in dangerous consequences.
- Choosing to learn more about the Smart Women Smart Choices program gives a woman the tools, support, and resources, to make a decision and to make a change to stay in charge of her safety when she parties.
Check out the Smart Women Smart Choices program.
Drinking and Sex, A Dangerous Brew
Partying can be a lot of fun. However, mixing alcohol with sex can create some unique hazards for women. If a woman drinks too much and then has sex she may put herself at risk for:
- Unsafe sex
- Unintended pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted infections (STI)
- Unwanted sex, sexual assault and violence
- Alcohol exposed pregnancy
- Infertility
- Menstrual difficulties
- Stillbirth and miscarriage
To learn more about these concerns, download When Women Drink Too Much: Drinking and Sex, A Dangerous Brew (PDF: 97KB/5 pages).
After The Party Is Over
Over time, women may experience greater harm from drinking than men, despite having consumed less alcohol. Drinking can hit every part of life, compromising future health and happiness. Women are vulnerable to a variety of dangers including:
Personal safety concerns- Sexual assault and violence
- Anxiety, irritability, depression
- Personal and relationship issues
- Blackouts, intellectual function and balance
- Weight gain and nutrition
- Liver damage
- Breast cancer
- Weakened immune system
- Fatigue and low energy
To learn more about these concerns, download When Women Drink Too Much: After The Party is Over (PDF: 101KB/6 pages).
Additional Resources
Download brochures about the effects of alcohol on women from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website:
