When it comes to drinking, men have the reputation of holding their liquor better than women. A recent study found that when it comes to alcohol, women drink about 20 percent faster than men. There are a variety of reasons for this: hormones, social pressures, and body chemistry. Are you one of those people who thinks women drink faster than men? Here’s what you should know about why that may be true.
Women generally live in a society where they are expected to be more modest and understated while men are expected to be the center of attention and show off their masculinity through drinking.
Women drink faster simply because they tend to keep their drinks down longer than men because they don’t feel as compelled to vomit after every sip like we do.
Why do women drink faster than men?
This is one of the most frequent questions that comes up when people think about why women drink faster than men. And the answer may surprise you—it’s because they don’t feel as pressured to vomit after every sip like we do.
Women are taught to be more modest and understated while guys are expected to show their masculinity through drinking, which often leads to us feeling obligated to keep our drinks down longer than women. We’re not done yet—a lot of research suggests that women tend to be better at handling alcohol because it releases estrogen in the brain, which also helps with decision-making.
Now, let’s do a little math: Men need 3 drinks in order to reach 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while a woman only needs 2 in order for her BAC to reach the same level.
The causes of why women get drunk faster than men
The term “female drunk syndrome” has been attributed to a number of different factors. Here are some of the most common:
Hormones: Hormonal fluctuations during a woman’s monthly cycle can cause bouts of inebriation.
During the first few days of menstruation, women have a heightened sense of smell and taste (hence the “hangover” effect) that can make it difficult for them to drink alcohol.
Social pressures: Women may not drink as much because society dictates they shouldn’t act like men while drinking.
Body chemistry: Women’s bodies process alcohol differently than men’s. Not only do they metabolize alcohol better, but they also experience less hangovers in general because their bodies have been conditioned by years and years of drinking in moderation.
Hormones and drinking
Women are more likely to drink faster than men because they have higher levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone that helps them regulate their alcohol intake. Higher levels of DHEA can make it easier for women to drink, even if they don’t feel drunk.
It’s important for women to keep drinking because it’s a socially acceptable way for them to show off their feminine qualities and flirt with men, who need to be constantly drinking in order to keep up with the ladies.
Social pressures and drinking
alcohol
Women feel pressured to drink more because they’re put in a situation where they’re expected to be the designated driver for their group of friends.
-This feeling of social pressure means that women are less likely to drink as much as men and try not to drink too much in the first place.
-They don’t have this same fear of being seen as a “loser” if they were caught drinking too much, which could lead them over the line.
Body chemistry and drinking.
Body chemistry is a key reason women drink faster than men. The difference in body chemistry is largely due to the different levels of alcohol dehydrogenase among men and women. Women have a higher amount of this enzyme which helps break down the alcohol in their system, so they usually feel less intoxicated than men.
Additionally, women have more blood flow to their brains, which helps them process alcohol more quickly.
That being said, there are many other factors that contribute to how quickly or slowly someone drinks. For example, people who are social drinkers tend to drink faster because they’re surrounded by friends who encourage them to keep drinking. Similarly, people who go out for dinner with a group of people tend to drink faster because it’s easier for everyone at the table to order drinks together and share some fun conversation.
Men and drinking
So, why do men drink more than women?
-Men drink more because they are less concerned about the consequences of drinking. They know that it’s not going to hurt them physically and that it won’t impact their careers (unless of course they’re out of control).
-Men drink more because they are often told by society to be the bigger man. It’s also a way for them to show off how tough they are.
What is the difference between men and women when it comes to drinking?
-Women generally have more body fat than men, so they don’t feel as full or as drunk as quickly.
-Men and women have different levels of alcohol tolerance, but women’s bodies also metabolize alcohol at a slightly faster rate.
-The “female thing” that makes women drink faster is a natural defense mechanism to keep them from getting too drunk too fast.
What we can do to help combat this problem
There are a few ways to help combat this problem. The first, and most obvious, is to not judge people based on their gender. The second is to think about your own drinking habits and make sure you’re not being too loud and obnoxious about your intake so that it doesn’t become an issue for other people.
The last thing we need to do is be aware of the stigma surrounding alcohol in our society and work with those who are struggling with addiction or alcoholism. It’s easy to say that we should feel sorry for these individuals, but the truth is they brought this on themselves because of their own choices.
Conclusion
When a woman drinks, her body chemistry reacts with alcohol faster than a man’s. This is because women have higher levels of a woman-specific hormone called estrogen in their system than men. This hormone leads to women being more accustomed to the effects of alcohol and allows them to drink more quickly.
Women also have lower levels of a man-specific hormone called testosterone, which helps them feel less intoxicated and causes them to drink slower. However, social pressures and body chemistry still have a powerful effect on how much a woman drinks.
