Have you ever noticed that men tend to drink more alcohol than women? Have you ever wondered why women appear to be more affected by the same amount of alcohol? Could it be as simple as differences in physical size? Check out the information below and the Blood Alcohol Concentration Charts.
Generally, the same amount of alcohol consumed over the same period of time will result in a higher BAC for individuals assigned to females at birth than for individuals assigned to males at birth. This effect is related to differences in average body water content and the ability to break down alcohol in the stomach.
| Assigned female at birth | Assigned male at birth | |
|---|---|---|
| Ability to dilute alcohol | Average body water content: 52% | Average body water content: 61% |
| Ability to metabolize alcohol | Have less Alcohol Dehydrogenase in their stomach linings; thus, they break down less alcohol before reaching the bloodstream. | Have more Alcohol Dehydrogenase in their stomach linings; thus, they break down more alcohol before reaching the bloodstream. |
| Fluctuations in estrogen levels | Monthly premenstrual hormone changes may relate to increased BAC's | |
| Medications | Birth control pills and other medications that increase estrogen may relate to higher BAC's |