Women and Alcohol Alcohol is a legal and socially acceptable drug. We recognise that drinking can be healthy, enjoyable and sociable. Because more women are drinking and alcohol abuse amongst women is growing. Women's Reaction to Alcohol Women are on average smaller than men and their bodies contain proportionally less water, so they can tolerate less alcohol prior to damage to their organs. This will affect the speed it takes for a woman to get drunk.
Women seem to be more vulnerable to some of the effects of alcohol than men.
Some studies have shown that women suffer the psychological effects of alcohol dependence - confusion, intellectual impairment, loss of self control, earlier than men. Drink affects women differently at various stages of the menstrual cycle. This is probably because the body tissues at some of these times are ready to retain water. If there is alcohol present it will stay in the body longer, possibly causing severe liver damage in a comparatively short time. It particularly affects women during pre-menstrual or ovulatory phases as the concentration of alcohol in women's blood will be higher and stay in the body longer.