Alcohol Facts #1 Published Sept. 14, 2012 439th Airlift Wing WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- Did you know... "Heavy Drinking" or "At Risk" drinking is defined as drinking more than these single-day or weekly limits: MEN: More the 4 drinks on any day or 14 per week WOMEN: More than 3 drinks on any day or 7 per week About 1 in 4 people who exceed these limits already have alcoholism or alcohol abuse symptoms and the rest are at greater risk for developing these or other problems. Individual risks can vary and people can have problems even though they drink less than these amounts. Why is it less for Women? Research shows that women start to have alcohol-related problems at lower drinking levels than men do. One reason is that, on average, women weigh less than men. In addition, alcohol disperses in body water, and pound for pound, women have less water in their bodies than men do. So after a man and woman of the same weight drink the same amount of alcohol, the woman's blood alcohol concentration will tend to be higher, putting her at greater risk for harm.