Although patterns of drinking and behavior when inebriated vary cross-culturally, alcohol consumption affects men and women differently in all cultures for biological as well as social reasons. Women’s bodies metabolize alcohol differently from men’s because of their generally smaller body size, greater fat-to-muscle ratio, and fluctuating hormonal levels. Although the capacity to drink alcohol without showing strong effects of inebriation varies individually and can be modified by experience, in general, women get drunker faster on less alcohol than men. In addition, negative effects of chronic overconsumption of alcohol such as liver disease, anemia, peptic ulcers, high blood pressure, and hepatitis develop more quickly in women. Not only has breast cancer been linked to alcohol consumption in women, but also the well-cited protective factors of moderate consumption against heart disease only apply to women after menopause, and then only if women consume half the quantities...
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Rebhun, L.A., Katsulis, Y. (2004). Alcohol Use. In: Encyclopedia of Women’s Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_28
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_28
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