Half a century ago, Indian women and alcohol were not talked about in the same breath. Some rich and ‘modern’ women were thought to indulge in expensive wines and were spoken about in hushed tones. Women’s lib and empowerment increased with each decade. More and more adolescent girls went to study in faraway towns and stayed in hostels. Young women got better-paid jobs that required meetings with clients or career-enhancing conferences in metros. These adolescent girls and young women who studied/ worked hard needed relaxation, at least on the weekends. Going for get-togethers and Saturday night parties/ kitty parties became the new norm. It gained social acceptance in the middle class too.
Apart from the hospitality sector, the aggressive liquor industry was also quick to jump into the fray. Women-centric, targeted but subtle advertisements started luring adolescent girls and young women. The industry came up with newer, women-centric products. Vodka suddenly became the craze and was touted as the ‘odorless’ wonder drink. Not to be outdone, the white rum manufacturers came out with Breezers. Their cranberry breeze was supposed to benefit women having urinary issues. Fruity cocktails in glass tumblers were like fruit juices, these could be taken at home too, in front of ignorant family members. Wine manufacturing and sales also increased manifold. Pseudoscience spread the message that a glass of wine was good for the heart. Many young women think it is a healthy drink. ‘Why can’t girls have some fun’ replaced, ‘Why should boys have all the fun! Liquor consumption by adolescent girls and women has increased by 20% every year in the last decade. And it is all thanks to smart advertising and misinformation.
MORE WOMEN are drinking. WOMEN are drinking MORE.
If males are drinking, why not females? Is it true? Am I a sexist and hence writing this article? The answer is for the readers to find out after reading the whole article. Before reading about the ill effects of alcohol in women, it is important to know if alcohol affects women differently than men. It does.
A quantity of alcohol affects the body as per the body weight of a person. Women being lighter than men will have a greater as well as a faster effect.
Secondly, as women have lesser body water (and more body fat) than men of equal weight, the effect of alcohol will be more on them. This is because alcohol flows in the blood which is 90% water.
Lastly, alcohol is metabolized at a slower rate in their body, hence the effect is prolonged with a lengthier ‘hangover’ for the same quantity consumed.
To summarise, alcohol affects faster and its effects stay longer with an extended hangover in women as compared to men.
Ill effects of alcoholol exclusively/ more pronounced in Women
Those who have read my last article are well aware of the terms AUD (Alcohol Abuse Disorder), Binge drinking, and chronic alcoholic. Some of the ill effects are listed below:
- BREAST CANCER. Even one drink a day for a long period has 5% to 10% more chance of developing this disease. More the drinks for a longer duration, the more chances of having breast cancer ( besides other cancers as in men).
- FERTILITY. AUD of moderate duration or Binge drinking alters the menstrual cycle in females, it also reduces chances of conceiving in some.
- PREGNANCY. AUD people have a risk of developing FASD – Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. AUD as well as Binge drinkers have a greater chance of early labor, stillbirth, or a baby born with deformities.
- SKIN AND APPEARANCE. Initially, alcohol causes dilatation of superficial blood vessels giving a flushed appearance. Later the skin is dehydrated and more wrinkles and dark spots are visible, especially on the face. The natural glow of the skin is lost after Binge drinking. Those who drink on a regular basis gain weight and their skin ages faster.
- AGING AND MENOPAUSE. Alcohol worsens the symptoms of menopause especially hot flashes and night sweats. Chances of developing Osteoporosis are higher in AUD and chronic alcoholics.
- SEVERE HEALTH ISSUES.
- Brain damage. In a study, serial CT scans revealed faster loss of gray matter in women as compared to men who regularly consumed alcohol. This resulted in earlier cognitive (power of thinking and making decisions) in women as compared to men.
- Liver damage. Similarly, the liver was damaged earlier in women than in men who were chronic alcoholics.
- Heart disease. There is a lot of misinformation on this subject. Men may have a beneficial effect on their hearts if they consume less than two units a day. No such beneficial effect is seen in premenopausal women. Women over 50 years of age may have a beneficial effect if they consume no more than one drink a day. Drinking more than that, for a long period of time may cause the heart to weaken.
- In certain adolescent girls and women, just one drink may trigger Atrial fibrillation. This is seen in the form of a very fast heart rate, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
- OTHER ISSUES.
- Post drink Violence. Many studies by social scientists have revealed that young girls and adolescents are forced into ‘date rape’ or molestation after an alcoholic get together if they have consumed liquor. In present times, making a video and blackmailing the victims is quite common.
- Marital Violence. AUD as well as chronic alcoholic women face violence from their spouses even if they drink at home.
- Traffic accidents. Generally, women are safer vehicle drivers than men. But, after a Binge drinking session, a woman driver has a higher chance of ending in a traffic accident.
- Genetic predisposition. Some women are more prone to chronic alcoholism by drinking it at just one or two occasions. More will be discussed in the next article.
What can be done?
The second wave of COVID19 is nearing its end. State governments have no funds. The only way to raise funds without raising a hue and cry is to encourage the sale of the most taxed commodities – liquor and tobacco. Also, increase their sales. Delhi government is planning to reduce the legal age of drinking from 25 years to 21 years and reduce the number of dry days. The liquor manufacturers and the hospitality sector will leave no stone unturned to promote liquor and lure newer clients of all ages. Beware. We need to take care of ourselves and our near and dear ones. So what can we do?
AT OUR LEVEL
- Delay the decision of taking a drink before the 21st/ 25th birthday (depending on the law in the state) if one is so inclined.
- Try to take no more than one unit in a day.
- Don’t serve alcohol to those below 21/ 25 as per law. Also, a second drink should not be served.
- Help younger girls/ women relatives and friends to cope with their drinking issues.
- Those who are above 50 and past their menopause should be good to have a second drink. But women in the menopausal stages of life years of age should best avoid alcohol or be ready to face excessive night sweats and hot flushes.
- Ladies should avoid drinking in bars if they are alone, not even in a Ladies only bar.
- Absolute NO to drink and drive.
- Those who have a drinking problem should talk to a health care provider or an elderly lady for guidance.
COMMUNITY AND STATE
- Enforce laws against the sale of alcohol by bootleggers at home.
- Hostel wardens where adolescent girls and women below the legal age of drinking reside have a special responsibility in detecting early and putting an end to the abuse of liquor in their premises. The same goes for managers of PGs.
- Provide help and support to women/ adolescents in distress who have consumed liquor in excess.
- For City dwellers: Alcoholics Anonymous is an NGO that encourages chronic alcoholics to get together and speak freely about their problems. Many recovered alcoholics also come in and give tips on how to deal with these issues and come out of this deadly habit.
Writers footnote:
Alcohol should always be taken in moderation by men and women and Drink responsibly should be the mantra that everyone should follow. The purpose of this article is neither to berate women who drink nor to judge their decision of drinking. The aim is to create an awareness for those who are not fully aware or have been misinformed. A lot of ladies over 40-50 years of age have been drinking liquor sensibly for many years. With moderation and maturity, they have maintained good health and have not allowed unscrupulous persons to take advantage. They can be of immense help to their younger friends and relatives by guiding the younger generation appropriately.
My final message for the ladies:
Maj Gen Krishan Chauhan is a second-generation army officer. He studied in Sainik School Kapurthala, graduated from IG Medical College, Shimla and did his MD from AFMC/Pune University. He has served in the Army Medical Corps for 36 years and retired as the Addl DGMS army. He is an avid marathon runner and a writer. He first wrote articles for children in The Young Chronicles. Later, he started writing his own blog as Genkris, on WordPress where over 25 articles on various subjects can be accessed.
