The social ramifications of the above question can be the cause of a very interesting debate when one is talking of women drinking versus men drinking. But there is also the scientific angle to women and alcohol and that makes for an interesting study as well.
Is moderation the answer?
In life itself, moderation and balance can be the answer to many things. This becomes critical when one is talking about drinking alcohol. A lot of people enjoy the occasional drink. Moderate quantities of wine can have quite a large range of health benefits to offer.
Studies have shown that a moderate intake of alcohol and wine can:
- Reduce blood clotting agents such as fibrinogen.
- Increase cognitive behavior.
- Enhance good cholesterol and so on.
But there is a rider to these benefits and that rider is the definition of moderate drinking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- 14 drinks per week is normal for men.
- 8 or more drinks per week for women makes them ‘heavy drinkers’.
These numbers are borne out by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism too – more than 7 drinks a week makes a woman a heavy drinker. There is also a definition pertaining to a standard drink, which in simple terms is something that contains 14 grams of pure alcohol.
Why are the numbers so different?
Simply put, it has to do with the anatomy of women versus the anatomy of men. It is also true that the metabolism of women means that more alcohol ends up in their bloodstream rather than digested in the stomach. Having said that, one should also be aware of the subjectivity of these numbers.
While one woman can be completely steady, even after 3 drinks in one evening, another woman may get drunk even after 1 drink! Broadly speaking, however, the numbers of the CDC seem to apply to define heavy drinking when it comes to women.
When is it heavy?
Every woman should know her limits and there is no getting away from this fact. Crimes against women happen more often when they are inebriated. A false sense of well-being and even security can be the result of drinking too much.
This can lead a woman to take wrong decisions and allow herself to be vulnerable to all kinds of threats. A combination of two things leads to too much risk:
- Too much drinking and
- Too frequent drinking.
Health risks
As far as women and alcohol is concerned, one can safely state that when there is heavy drinking involved there are significant health risks too. These risks can encompass:
- Liver disorders.
- Cardiac problems.
- Depression.
- Alcoholism.
- Patently dangerous social behavior and
- Several types of cancer as well.
Throw in high blood pressures, pancreatitis and other psychological problems and you know there is almost anything that can be attributed to high intake of alcohol for women. Pregnant women should completely stay away from alcohol of all kinds. Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause all kinds of health problems for babies.
Author Bio: John is a writer and an expert in food and beverage. He owns a London beer delivery website where he sells snacks and drinks online.