Young Women Experience Greater Rise in Monthly Binge Drinking Than Men

Recent research highlights a concerning trend in alcohol consumption among young adults, revealing that the gender gap in binge drinking behaviors has reversed in recent years. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the pattern of binge drinking, which refers to consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short period, has shifted between 2017–2019 and 2021–2023.

The analysis, led by Bryant Shuey, M.D., from the University of Pittsburgh, examined data from over 267,843 adults through the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Historically, women exhibited lower rates of past-month binge drinking compared to men. For instance, during 2017–2019, women had a prevalence of 22.6 per 100 persons, while men were at 29.2. This trend persisted across all age groups.

However, the situation changed in 2021–2023. While overall rates among adults still favored men (25.7 compared to 21.8 per 100 persons), a notable reversal occurred among young adults aged 18–25. In this group, women reported higher binge drinking rates (31.6 per 100 persons) than their male counterparts (29.9). This shift points to an increasing prevalence of binge drinking among young women.

Despite this rise, women continued to report lower levels of heavy drinking—defined as consuming alcohol in larger quantities at a single time—compared to men, with the rates remaining significantly lower across all age groups.

Health experts emphasize the importance of targeted screening and intervention. As rising alcohol-related liver disease and mortality among young women become more evident, healthcare providers are urged to prioritize screening for binge and heavy drinking in this population to prevent long-term health consequences.

Sources and additional information can be found in the original study: Bryant Shuey et al, Sex-Based Differences in Binge and Heavy Drinking Among US Adults, JAMA (2025).