Drink clear alcohol. Dark alcohol tends to contain a substance called cogeners. These types of alcohols are more likely to cause hangover symptoms. White wine, vodkas, light rum are examples of clear alcohols. Red wine, dark rum, sherry, brandy are high in cogeners.
Beer is in between, mostly depending on how dark it is.
This difference has no effect on how drunk a woman can get, only the liklihood and severity of hang-overs. The food thing. Everyone knows this already. Eat something before and during alcohol consumption. This slows the absorption of alcohol.