Do men and women absorb alcohol at the same rate?

The absorption of alcohol in the body does not occur at the same rate for men and women. This difference in alcohol absorption can be attributed to several physiological and hormonal factors.

Firstly, on average, men typically have a higher body water content than women. This means that for the same amount of alcohol consumed, men may have more water in their bodies to dilute the alcohol, resulting in lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) compared to women.

Secondly, women generally have a higher percentage of body fat than men. Since alcohol is water-soluble and not fat-soluble, this means that women may experience a higher BAC than men for the same amount of alcohol consumed, as the alcohol distributes differently in their bodies.

Moreover, hormonal differences can also influence how alcohol is metabolized. Women may metabolize alcohol differently due to fluctuations in hormones, particularly during different phases of the menstrual cycle.

These physiological differences lead to the conclusion that men and women absorb and metabolize alcohol at different rates, which can significantly affect how alcohol impacts their bodies.