Why Are Alcohol-Related Deaths Skyrocketing Among Women?

Bottomless brunches have morphed into a hobby, mommy wine culture has spread like wildfire, and after-work happy hours have regained a standing time slot on calendars. These scenes often paint a giggly facade on social media.

But data now shows that, yes, alcohol use among women (especially women in their late 20s and 30s) is increasing and more and more women are dying from alcohol-related deaths. 

Here's what you need to know about female-specific risks of alcohol consumption and science-backed ways to take care of yourself without completely going sober. 

The latest stats on excessive drinking among women 

Data released this year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) found that alcohol-related deaths are increasing across the board. 

From 2020 to 2021, excessive drinking led to a total of 178,000 deaths1—equaling almost 500 daily deaths. Researchers took into account both deaths from chronic conditions (like cancer and liver disease) as well as acute deaths (accidents from one occasion of drinking too much).

Overall, men still account for a higher percentage of these deaths than women—but women are quickly closing that gap. The prevalence of excessive drinking among women rose by about 35% during the time of this study compared to a 27% rise among men. 

This aligns with data published by researchers back in June 2023, showing that women of reproductive age are more likely to binge drink or have alcohol use disorder now than women who were the same age in the mid-1990s.

Researchers of this study as well as others cite a few common reasons behind what's driving this concerning trend. 

Why are more women turning to alcohol?

Drinking regularly has become more normalized than ever—in personal and professional settings as well as social and at-home settings. 

Messages women get from each other as well as messaging from the alcohol industry frame drinking as an effective and enjoyable stress relief. 

And while mindful alcohol consumption can bring some enjoyment, women are also more susceptible than men to alcohol's harmful effects. 

Female-specific health concerns of drinking

Many alcohol-related conditions are chronic2—meaning it takes years of consuming these beverages in excess to see a negative effect. But the negative effects hit women sooner and harder than men. 

These differences are likely due to how women and men metabolize alcohol differently6. Women tend to absorb more alcohol and take longer to metabolize it. So even if a man and woman drink the same amount of alcohol, the woman's blood alcohol levels will likely be higher, and she'll likely feel the effects of that alcohol sooner (and longer) than her male drinking buddy.

How to protect your health while still including alcohol in your life

In a world where pretty heavy (and frequent) drinking occasions are normalized, it can be pretty easy to overdo it on alcohol—especially since moderate drinking for women is considered to be one drink per day. 

Although less alcohol consumption is usually just all around better for health, you don't have to go completely sober if you don't want to. Instead, adopting mindful drinking habits can help you balance the enjoyment of alcohol with your long-term health goals. 

The takeaway

Both excessive drinking and alcohol-related deaths are becoming all too commonplace—and women are facing a unique set of societal pressures and health concerns. It's important to know that even having one drink daily (within the advisable moderate drinking guideline for women) is linked to a higher risk of chronic disease like cirrhosis. So practicing mindful drinking habits and daily liver health practices is a good place to start. 

And check out this guide if you're looking to reassess your relationship with alcohol.