No, the Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines are the same regardless of gender, however, men and women’s bodies are affected differently by alcohol. Women have a greater risk of developing certain alcohol-related illnesses such as breast cancer, stroke, diabetes, liver disease and high blood pressure. The main reasons for this include:
- Women have lower levels of the enzymes that break down alcohol, so it stays in their system longer.
- Women have less water in their bodies to break down alcohol.
- Women have more fat, which means that alcohol takes longer to leave their bodies.
- Women generally weigh less than men, and people who weigh less reach higher blood alcohol levels than those who weigh more.