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Most studies suggest that the sexes use alcohol differently.
In general, women are more likely to abstain from alcohol and less likely to report symptoms of alcohol abuse or dependence. Women are usually older when they first try alcohol, and they tend to drink less frequently than men. When they do drink, women typically have fewer servings of alcohol than men. These findings may create the impression that women have less of an appetite for alcohol and that when they drink, they are generally less intoxicated than men. This impression may not be accurate, however.