Young women aged 18 to 25 are now binge drinking at higher rates than their male peers, reversing a long-standing trend, according to a study published in JAMA. This shift, observed between 2021 and 2023, raises concerns among health professionals about rising alcohol-related health risks in young women.
Binge Drinking Trends Shift During the Pandemic
The findings came from a large national survey of over 267,000 adults. Researchers compared two time periods: 2017–2019 and 2021–2023. They found that, although men overall still binge drink more than women, women aged 18 to 25 were more likely to report binge drinking in the most recent years.
Between 2017 and 2019, binge drinking was more common among men in every age group. However, in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, young women overtook young men in this behavior. From 2021 to 2023, 31.6% of young women reported binge drinking in the past month compared to 29.9% of young men.
Health Experts Link Shift to Rising Liver Disease
Dr. Bryant Shuey, assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, helped lead the research. He previously published findings showing a sharp rise in alcohol-related hospitalizations among women during the pandemic.
“These hospitalizations were driven by liver disease — cases of cirrhosis or alcohol-related hepatitis,” Shuey said. “We believe the narrowing gap in alcohol use between men and women has contributed to this.”
The research team used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Participants were split into four age groups: 18–25, 26–49, 50–64, and 65 and older. Women made up slightly more than half the sample.
Heavy Drinking Still Higher Among Men Overall
Despite the new trend among young adults, men across all age groups still drink more heavily than women. From 2021 to 2023, 7.8% of men reported heavy drinking in the past month, compared to 5% of women. In the earlier period (2017–2019), the difference was even greater (8.3% vs. 4.5%).
However, the gender gap in both binge and heavy drinking has clearly narrowed. Researchers warn that this shift could lead to more alcohol-related health problems among women, especially liver disease.
Call for More Screening and Targeted Interventions
With alcohol-related health issues rising, especially among young and middle-aged women, experts are urging healthcare providers to step up screening for unhealthy drinking habits.
“We need to focus on preventing binge and heavy drinking in young and middle-aged women,” said Shuey. “If we don’t, we’re likely to see more cases of alcohol-related cirrhosis in these groups — and we’re already seeing it in the data.”
The study authors recommend more targeted interventions to address the specific social and cultural reasons behind the growing trend in women’s drinking.
Conclusion
The rise in binge drinking among young women marks a major shift in alcohol use trends. While men still lead in heavy drinking, the rapid increase among young women has health experts concerned. They emphasize the need for more attention, better screening, and focused public health efforts to prevent long-term harm.
