Increasing alcohol consumption among women a growing public health concern

Although the gender gap in alcohol consumption is narrowing among all ages, the reasons differ. For people over 26, women are increasing their alcohol consumption faster than men. Among teens and young adults, however, there's an overall decline in drinking. The decline is simply slower for women.

Alcohol consumption in India increased by nearly 40 per cent and women's alcohol market is expected to grow by 25 per cent over the next five years.

In Delhi itself, 40 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women (almost 15 lakh women) are alcohol consumers; the survey quotes a report by AIIMS as saying.

The survey reveals that 43.7 per cent women in the age group of 18-30 years consumed alcohol out of habit or desire to do so, 41.7 per cent women in the age group of 31-45 years consumed alcohol as an occupational requirement or because of social norm.

Over 53 per cent women above 60 years and 39.1 per cent women in 46-60 years had alcohol for emotional reasons.

"Driven by the market forces where cocktail and berry drinks are being promoted as feel good and relaxing drinks for women, women are enticed into drinking more with a promise of good time that awaits them," it says.

The CADD survey lists out more reasons why women drink, it says, "At times just to fit in or as a way to unwind, more spending capacity/affluence, another way of equal opportunity or pursuit at work place/profession, alcohol as a coping mechanism to stress, depression, loneliness anxiety, pain, mental and physical traumas and to cope with the needs and pressures of fast paced life."

And the layers of stress, isolation and trauma from Covid-19 could make things worse.

India has witnessed a steady rise in its consumption of alcohol in the last decade. A 2019 study by researchers from TU Dresden in Germany, concluded that between 2010 and 2017, alcohol consumption in India increased by 38 per cent – from 4.3 to 5.9 litres per adult per year. The decade also witnessed a boom in home grown whisky and gin labels, and saw both men and women significantly altering their tipple choices and consumption patterns.

According to this survey, women in Assam consume much more alcohol than their counterparts in other states and union territories in the country. The ministry's 2019-20 data showed that 26.3 per cent of women in Assam who are in the 15-49 years' age category consume alcohol, which is the highest among all states and union territories (UTs).

Men have been dying from alcohol-related causes for a long time, more than women, going back 100 years, maybe (in) 10, 20 years women are likely to catch up. We need to try to make sure that doesn't happen.