SHOULD ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION MEASURES BE ADJUSTED FOR GENDER DIFFERENCES

Because of biological differences between men and women, the same quan tity of alcohol consumed over the same time period produces higher blo od alcohol levels (BALs) in women than in men. Some alcohol researcher s have proposed that quantity and volume measures of alcohol consumpti on (e.g. usual number of drinks per drinking day and overall amount of alcohol consumed) should be adjusted to reflect these biological diff erences. To date, no standard adjustment for biological gender differe nces has been adopted. In this paper, we review the literature on biol ogical and behavioral differences related to alcohol consumption and e ffects and discuss the implications of these differences in terms of a djusting alcohol consumption measures. Our review suggests that adjust ing measures of alcohol consumption to compensate for biological sex d ifferences is most appropriate for research or policy applications inv olving the short and long-term physiological effects of alcohol in con texts where gender differences in how alcohol is consumed can be assum ed to be minimal. In other circumstances, non-biological gender differ ences relating to alcohol use, such as pace of drinking, may moderate the relationship between alcohol consumption and biological gender dif ferences, making an adjustment less defensible. We also identify areas where more Knowledge is needed not only to address the issue of adjus ting alcohol measures for gender differences but also to understand be tter the relationship between alcohol consumption and effects.