Women drink almost as much alcohol as men, global study finds

Women have caught up with men when it comes to drinking alcohol, new research has found.

The trend is most evident among young adults, according to the findings.

The researchers looked at the drinking habits of four million people born between 1891 and 2000 all over the world - by examining 68 studies on alcohol consumption.

They found that among those born in the early 1900s, men were:

:: 2.2 times more likely than women to consume alcohol; 

:: Three times more likely to drink in ways "suggestive of problematic use" 

:: 3.6 times more likely to experience alcohol-related harms

Image Caption:Doctors recommend that men and women do not drink more than 14 units per week

But that ratio changes dramatically when examining data relating to people born in the late 1900s. The study found that men were:

:: 1.1 times more likely than women to consume alcohol

:: 1.2 times more likely to drink problematically

:: 1.3 times more likely to experience alcohol-related harms.

The researchers concluded: "These results have implications for the framing and targeting of alcohol use prevention and intervention programmes.

"Alcohol use and alcohol use disorders have historically been viewed as a male phenomenon. 

"The present study calls this assumption into question and suggests that young women in particular should be the target of concerted efforts to reduce the impact of substance use and related harms."

The study, by researchers from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of the University of New South Wales, Australia, was published in the journal BMJ Open.

Emily Robinson, director of campaigns at Alcohol Concern, agreed with the findings, denouncing "a concerted effort from the alcohol industry to market products and brands specifically to women".

She said "alcohol is so cheap and easily available, it's become an everyday grocery item", and called for "mandatory health warnings on alcohol products" and a mass media campaign to raise awareness.

Portman Group, the trade group of alcohol producers, said the findings do not "reflect the real-life evidence of how women drink in the UK today".

A spokesman said: "Official data shows significant declines in women's alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking and binge-drinking rates over the last decade and today 84% of women do not exceed low-risk guidelines."

The Chief Medical Officers' guideline for both men and women is that it is "safest not to drink regularly more than 14 units per week, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level."

If drinking as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread this evenly over 3 days or more, the guidelines recommend.