From 1999 to 2017, the number of women who reported any drinking increased 10% (rates among men stayed mostly the same) and the number of women who reported binge drinking, or consuming roughly four or more drinks in about two hours, increased by 23%. - NY Times

When it comes to alcohol, men and women aren't equal. The biological differences allow alcohol to cause harm at lower levels than men. According to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), "alcohol-related problems sooner and at lower drinking levels than men." Body structure and chemistry cause women to absorb more alcohol and metabolize it slower. This means, a woman's blood alcohol level will go higher than a man's even if they drink the same amount and weigh the same.

Find more studies about women and alcohol here.

For treatment and resources, visit Women for Sobriety, The Hub or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

During the pandemic, alcohol use increased in both men and women, however women reported 41% more heavy drinking episodes in 2020. Heavy drinking is defined as four or more drinks within a few hours.

In 2019, almost 66% of Americans enjoyed at least one drink over the course of the year and almost 50% of Americans considered themselves to be regular drinkers. But what happens when a person’s alcohol consumption becomes excessive?

Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or higher. For a typical adult male, this means consuming 5 or more drinks in a 2 hour period. For women, the number of drinks drops to 4 in a 2 hour period. Binge drinking on 5 or more days over a 30 day period is considered heavy alcohol use.

If you or a loved one has engaged in heavy alcohol use, you are not alone. Over 16 million Americans engaged in heavy alcohol use this past year, leading to almost 100,000 deaths, over 1 million emergency room visits, and over 1.5 million arrests for alcohol related incidents. In addition to these consequences, heavy drinking can also lead to numerous health risks such as:

Read full blog to learn more about binge drinking.

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