Women appear to be more vulnerable than men to many adverse consequences of alcohol use.
Women achieve higher concentrations of alcohol in the blood and become more impaired than men after drinking equivalent amounts of alcohol. Research also suggests that women are more susceptible than men to alcohol-related organ damage and to trauma resulting from traffic crashes and interpersonal violence. This Alcohol Alert examines gender differences in alcohol's effects and considers some factors that may place women at risk for alcohol-related problems. Metabolism Women absorb and metabolize alcohol differently than men. In addition, women appear to eliminate alcohol from the blood faster than men.