Alcohol abuse doubled among women, according to research

Alcohol abuse more than doubled among women in the country, rising from 7.7% to 15.2% between 2006 and 2023. This was shown in a recent analysis by researchers from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), ACT Health Promotion, and the Ministry of Health. Published in the Brazilian Journal of Epidemiology, the study assessed trends in the main risk factors, protective factors, and morbidities associated with Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in adults in Brazilian capitals based on Vigitel data. Among men, however, the analysis showed that alcohol abuse remained stable over the same period, at around 25%.

For Mariana Thibes, a doctor of sociology and coordinator of the Center for Information on Health and Alcohol (CISA), this increase reflects a convergence of social, cultural, and economic transformations. The first concerns work hours combined with household chores and caring for children or other family members. "This accumulation of roles can generate chronic stress, a feeling of lack of time for self-care, and a search for quick and easy rewards at the end of the day—fertile ground for alcohol to become an escape valve," she explains. The most recent statistics from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) confirm this: women dedicate, on average, 21.3 hours per week to household chores and/or caregiving, while men spend 11.7 hours.

Another point is the association of alcohol, like a glass of wine or a drink at the end of the day, with a symbol of self-care on social media. This can actually mask a harmful pattern of use, according to the expert. "Added to this, the pandemic accelerated the consolidation of remote and hybrid work models, which, for many women, meant more flexibility, but also more isolation," she reflects.

The effects of alcohol on a woman's body

Men's and women's bodies metabolize alcohol differently, and these differences are influenced by biological, hormonal, and physiological factors. Among the main reasons is the difference in body composition—women have a higher percentage of fat and a lower percentage of water than men. Furthermore, as psychiatrist and CISA researcher Olivia Pozzolo points out, the activity of the dehydrogenase enzyme, responsible for metabolizing alcohol in the liver and stomach, is lower in women. "These factors result in higher blood concentrations for the same dose, accelerating liver damage," she notes.

The harmful effects on the female body don't stop there. "Even moderate alcohol consumption, equivalent to one drink per day, is associated with a 4% to 7% increased risk of breast cancer. At higher levels, such as three drinks a day or more, this risk can exceed 20%," says the doctor. "Alcohol also interferes with the reproductive system, potentially causing anovulation and infertility, increasing gestational complications, and contributing to osteopenia (low bone mineral density) after menopause," she adds.

The expert also draws attention to the risks to mental health, such as the increase in mood disorders, especially in those who drink to relax, and the greater vulnerability related to sexual and domestic violence caused by alcohol abuse.

The experts consulted by IstoÉ agree that changing this scenario isn't easy. In addition to investing in campaigns to inform women about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, public policies to support families, including childcare, would be necessary. But they emphasize that, to begin with, it's worth warning: despite the stigma, women shouldn't be ashamed to seek help. "Drinking less doesn't take away freedom; on the contrary, it restores health, self-esteem, and quality of life. Seeking help early, before one too many drinks becomes a habit, is a legitimate act of self-care," concludes psychiatrist and CISA researcher Olivia Pozzolo.

*With information from Agência Bori