Avoid that extra drink Girl!

Study shows that women executives are more susceptible to drinking problems than their male counterparts, but you can fight that…

Today’s Bangalore has more women who are game to try out the vodkas and the tequilas while compared to the men. The men prefer their favourites, mostly beer and whiskey.

The women are the ones who’re always ready to step ahead and grab the first drink at the team outings and more often than not, the extra tequila shot.

While this sounds cool and exciting, this can lead to a drinking problem too, and there can be many reasons for it.

The ‘A’ world

Women executives are more likely to develop an alcohol problem than junior staff, a study by University College, London, shows.

They are also more inclined to turn to alcohol than men in similar grades, according to researchers at the college.

The two main reasons cited for this were the glass ceiling and the emerging drinking culture.
It is said that it is the stress of trying to compete with men for executive roles that’s to blame. These findings are published in the journal Occupational Environmental Medicine.

The problem might not be that grave in India though, experts say, but they do not deny chances of this either. “Today, the techies have a lot of money but very few avenues to spend it. So drinking at a club is a ready choice.

Also, considering the stressful nature of the job, drinking is an option for relief. But it is usually lesser likely that a woman will end up with drinking problems, when compared to her male counterparts. But the work pressure coupled with the pressure at home cannot rule it out,” says B Kapur, consulting psychiatrist, Lake Side Hospital.

Saying ‘NO’

So how does one stop herself from falling into the vicious trap? “The answer is simple. The executives today are required to attend cocktail dinners and meetings, but this is the place they should use to test their will power.

If they feel that they are getting drawn to a drinking problem, then they can try to fix it by saying no to a drink at such a do. No one will force you since it is an official event. This can help you get over that first hurdle,” says Aditi Shankar, counsellor.

“Drinking, especially in women can be more hazardous than in men. They cannot deal with binge drinking or alcohol beyond a certain limit. Heart problems, problems with their digestion and inability to cope with weather change are just problems that can be seen on the tip of the iceberg.

If a man needs to be careful about his drink, a woman needs to be doubly careful,” says Dr Rukmini Prakash. So the next time you step out to that bar with colleagues or friends, do keep in mind the consequences of that extra drink…

Mid-Day