Women are at more risk of harm from alcohol than men
A woman’s body handles alcohol differently to a man’s. Women tend to have lower body weights, less body water and higher percentages of body fat than men. Women’s bodies process alcohol differently, resulting in higher concentrations of alcohol in their blood when drinking the same amounts of alcohol to men. Women are more vulnerable to tissue damage, cirrhosis of the liver and alcohol dependence.
Hazardous drinking can increase the risk of alcohol-related harms for the drinker – specifically the likelihood of poisoning, accidents, or falls – as well as alcohol-related conditions such as cancer and heart disease.
For further information on the health risks associated with alcohol, click here
Alcohol and pregnancy
There is no known safe level of alcohol during pregnancy and for this reason, avoiding alcohol completely is the safest choice. Exposure to alcohol while in the womb puts the unborn child at risk of developing Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), which can include physical, mental, behavioural and/or learning effects with lifelong implications.
More information on FASD is available from your GP or Maternity Hospital or visit FASD Ireland.
For more on alcohol and pregnancy, click here
Alcohol and breast cancer
Drinking one standard alcoholic drink a day is associated with a 9% increase in the risk of developing breast cancer, while drinking 3-6 standard drinks a day increases the risk by 41%. Alcohol is responsible for 1 in 8 breast cancers in Ireland.
For more information about alcohol and breast cancer, please talk to your GP or visit these websites:
- Irish Cancer Society, Ireland’s leading provider of breast cancer information and support.
- National Breast Cancer Research Institute conducts relevant, ethical research into the biology of breast cancer, to determine the cause of this disease and improve the treatment for patients.
- Breast Check is a government funded programme providing breast screening.
- Europa Donna is the European Breast Cancer Coalition. It is an independent non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from countries across Europe including Ireland.
Boost your health with the help of Alcohol Action Ireland’s information leaflet Women & Alcohol: Making the Drink Link , which includes key facts that are good to know and lists some handy tips to help cut down your alcohol intake.
Reducing the risks from alcohol
Women are advised to drink no more than 11 standard drinks a week. It is also important to have at least two days a week free from alcohol.
The lower-risk guidelines apply to healthy, adult women in the 18-65 age range. If you are a younger or older woman, you will need to drink less.
Keeping an eye on your drinking is important if you want to keep health risks to a minimum. You don’t need to have a drink problem to benefit from drinking less. Reducing your alcohol intake has many advantages including:
- Increased energy
- Better sleep
- Less weight gain
- Increased stability in mood
What is a standard drink?
Standard drinks contain about 10g of pure alcohol
One standard drink is:
- A half pint of lager
- A single measure of spirits
- A small glass of wine (around 100mls)
- A bottle of any alcopop
- A bottle of wine constitutes 8 standard drinks
How do I know if drinking could be damaging my health?
If you regularly drink heavily, think you might be dependent on alcohol or are concerned about your drinking, you might like to seek support. Your GP will be able to guide you through the help available to find something that suits you.
You can also contact the HSE’s Alcohol and Drugs Helpline for information on support services, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm, on 1800 459 459
You might also find the following websites helpful
- Mental Health Ireland www.mentalhealthireland.ie is a national voluntary organisation which aims to promote mental health and support persons with a mental illness.
- www.yourmentalhealth.ie aims to improve awareness and understanding of mental health in Ireland.
- The Samaritans www.samaritans.ie aims to improve people’s emotional health in order to create a greater sense of well being.
- Aware www.aware.ie is the national voluntary organisation providing support through depression
