Women gaining on men in terms of alcohol consumption

Women are catching up with men in terms of their alcohol consumption and its impact on their health, according to a study of international evidence which has been published in the online journal BMJ Open.

The trend, known as ‘sex convergence’, is most evident among young adults, the findings show.

Historically, men have been far more likely than women to drink alcohol and to drink it in quantities that damage their health, with some figures suggesting up to a 12-fold difference between the sexes.