Of course girls wanna have fun – absolutely no doubt about this! Our downfall is that we live in a world that has norms created by men, and men – especially in the case of alcohol – do not experience the negative effects as much as women. 


I fondly remember “out-drinking” my boy buddies – oh yes, I could keep up with them and I could drink even more! Funny how I often ended up kneeling at the altar of the great white toilet bowl…
What I failed to realise was that I was not doing myself any favours.

Alcohol is an insidious drug. It is portrayed in our media as sexy, a symbol of women’s freedom to be chic – the liberated woman! This is a potent symbol for lesbians, young and old. Add a bit of self medication to live in a homophobic world and it is little wonder that alcohol is the drug of choice for many lesbians in New Zealand.


Why should women be concerned about alcohol?


A recent study in Sweden has shown women who drank at the same level as their male counterparts suffered three times the damage to the part of their brain that controls moods, impulses and sleep (serotonin function).


Women’s bodies are harmed more by alcohol than men’s bodies.

Drinking a lot over many years can affect the way a person’s body absorbs vitamins leaving them malnourished.

It has an unhealthy effect on the immune system, which increases vulnerability to infectious diseases

It can lead to liver damage. Cirrhosis of the liver takes a significantly shorter period of time to develop in women as compared to men (13 years for women, 22 for men).

Alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer – especially if combined with smoking cigarettes.

Alcohol puts women at greater risk of osteoporosis.

Women who are drinking heavily take longer to get aroused and orgasms take longer to reach.


Not to mention the dodgy decisions we all make if drunk!
How much is too much? 
The Alcohol Advisory Council of NZ (ALAC) has revised their guidelines in line with international evidence that’s showing there is no “safe level” of alcohol use and if you choose to drink, women should only regularly drink up to two standard drinks, and if there is a special occasion – up to four drinks – with at least 2-3 days alcohol free days per week in order to avoid long term damage. Now there are about 7-8 standard drinks in a bottle of wine and about 1.3 in a bottle of beer… Makes ya think – doesn’t it?


It is all about balance, eating well, taking pleasure in many things. Some warning signs include: finding yourself depending on that drink to get you through the day or to de-stress you at night, not being able to imagine being alcohol free for more than a few days, and consistently drinking more than you had planned. 
If you are unsure if alcohol is a problem in your life, ask your partner, or your closest friends – they will have your best interests at heart and insight that you may not have. It may even be time to talk to a professional about the role of alcohol in your life.

| Diana Rands


If you have concerns about your own or someone else’s alcohol or other drug use, or if you’d like more information, contact CADS on 09 845 1818 or www.cads.org.nz or if you live outside Auckland contact Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797.