Women and alcohol

Due to size, body type and the way in which our bodies process alcohol, women, particularly younger women, can become affected by alcohol far quicker than men. This is not the only difference between men and women. The 2009 NHMRC guidelines state that “At higher levels of drinking, large differences by gender are seen, with the risk for women being significantly higher than that for men. The risk for women also increases faster with increased consumption than for men.”  Women also may have different drinking patterns and reasons for drinking to men depending on their age and lifestyles.  As a result women, particularly younger women, need to be aware of safe alcohol use guidelines and their health.

What is a standard drink?

One standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol. When keeping track of your alcohol consumption it is important to count the standard drinks consumed, rather than cans or glasses. This is because the alcohol content of alcoholic beverages can often be higher than one standard drink. For example, pre-mixed drinks can be equal to 1.5 or more standard drinks and cocktails can be equal to two or more standard drinks. 

All pre-packaged alcohol cans or bottles have the number of standard drinks listed on the label. Drinks such as wine, beer and spirits are sometimes served in glasses, so care must be taken. Ask bar staff if you are uncertain. 

Standard drink guide

Low risk drinking

The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guideline for reducing health risks associated with drinking alcohol defines “low risk” alcohol consumption for healthy men and women as no more than two standard drinks on any day with regular alcohol free days There is no amount of alcohol that can be said to be safe, but this “low risk” level of alcohol consumption in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle does not appear to be associated with long-term illness. However, there are times when you should not consume any alcohol: e.g. during illness, when taking medication, when pregnant or when breastfeeding. Your doctor can provide advice at these times.

High risk drinking

High risk alcohol consumption is best defined as anything that exceeds the consumption of more than two standard drinks per day. High risk drinking, including binge drinking (consumption of excess alcohol over a short space of time) can put your health at serious risk.

Having more than four standard drinks on a single occasion (even if you only do it once or twice per week) may cause health problems, increase risk of injury and accidents and affect relationships with those close to you. 

Short and long-term effects of high risk drinking

The short-term effects of high risk drinking include:

• Poor sleep
• Changes in mood (often affecting relationships)
• Headaches
• Dehydration
• Problems with day-to-day functioning, including clear decision making
• Irritation to the lining of the stomach, intestine and pancreas, which may cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• Accidents and injury

The long-term effects of high risk drinking include:

• Depression
• Relationship difficulties
• Decline in quality of life
• Weight gain
• Permanent liver damage
• Dementia
• Inability to think clearly
• Alcohol dependence
• Low vitamin B, zinc and magnesium – especially when combined with irregular eating
• Increased risk of some cancers – particularly breast cancer

Alcohol and young people

According to the National Alcohol Guidelines, young Australian adults have the highest consumption of alcohol and are most at risk of alcohol related injuries such as road trauma, sexual coercion, falls, violence, accidental death (e.g. drowning, overdose) and suicide. Binge drinking (drinking to excess over a short space of time) is most common among 14-25 year olds. Parents are now advised that children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from alcohol, so not drinking under 15 is especially important, and alcohol drinking by 15-17 year olds should be delayed for as long as possible.

It is important for young adults (and older adults as well) to carefully weigh up the risks involved before drinking alcohol above recommended guidelines.

Handy hints for drinking responsibly

• Set a maximum number of drinks for the night and make a pact with your friends to help you keep to it
• Take a limited amount of money out with you, to help limit how much you drink
• Start and finish with soft drinks or water, or alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Choose drinks with a low alcohol content - e.g. light beers, top mixed drinks with extra soft drink or soda
• Do not skip meals when going out – drink alcohol with food to slow absorption
• Avoid salty foods that make you thirsty and make you drink more
• Avoid home-mixed drinks such as punch where you cannot determine the alcohol content
• Be careful of friends or waiters topping up your drinks for you - this makes it much harder to gauge how much you have had to drink
• Make sure your friends stick with you, all night
• Absolutely no driving and never accept a lift from a drunk driver. Offer to be the designated driver for the night
• Eat sensibly through the week, get some exercise and proper sleep.
• Remind yourself you don’t have to drink too much to let go and have fun

Alcohol and breast cancer

Regular alcohol consumption increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. This risk rises with the level of alcohol consumed, so a reduction in alcohol consumption by women who drink alcohol regularly may reduce their breast cancer risk.

Alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding

The 2009 NHMRC guidelines advise pregnant women and breastfeeding women should not drink alcohol. High level drinking during pregnancy can cause a range of health problems for the unborn child, and can increase the likelihood of miscarriage. Alcohol in the bloodstream also passes through into breast milk which can in turn cause irritability, poor feeding and sleep disturbances in the child.

Alcohol and Stress

Excess or regular alcohol consumption may be an indicator of stress, and can also worsen stress and depression.

Alcohol and menopause

For women around the time of menopause, alcohol intake can exacerbate hot flushes and add to the risk of excess weight gain.

Questions and Answers

Q: Are there long term side effects for women who regularly drink small amounts of red wine?

The NHMRC guidelines are based on the best available evidence to date. Until we have evidence to the contrary, drinking quantities within the recommended guidelines does not appear to cause any long term effects.

Q: How do you advise women to reduce alcohol intake when it is such an ingrained part of many people's lives?

This is a complex question. If alcohol consumption is affecting your health then immediately ceasing intake is important. If you find this difficult, talk to your GP and seek expert help.

Many women may wish to modify their intake, where alcohol has become a habit. Expectations or pressure by friends or family to drink and frequent exposure to alcohol in social situations can interfere with good intentions. See ‘Handy Hints’ above for some practical tips on reducing your intake

Resources for alcohol management

NHMRC Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol

Department of Health and Ageing summary leaflets:

Reduce your risk: new national guidelines for alcohol consumption

Alcohol and your kids: a guide for parents and carers 

Don't lose your standards 

If you are pregnant, the safest option is not to drink alcohol 

Alcoholics Anonymous: www.aa.org.au

Al-Anon: www.al-anon.org/australia  
(for families and friends of problem drinkers/alcoholics)

Content updated 31 January 2012