However, few studies have thoroughly evaluated how males and females differ in the relationships among LR, potential mediators of the effect of LR of drinking (e.g.., alcohol expectancies), and alcohol outcomes. This issue is relevant because there are multiple sex-related differences regarding drinking practices. For example, women tend to weigh less, have less muscle, and metabolize alcohol more slowly than men, and as a consequence develop a higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) per drink (21-23). This greater effect per drink may be associated with their lower average consumption per drinking session and the finding that women are less likely to demonstrate most alcohol problems [23-29]. The two sexes might also differ on the impact that several of the components of the LR-based model might have on future drinking, thus potentially affecting how LR operates. This includes reports that females might be more responsive to peer pressures regarding alcohol consumption [1, 30, 31], may be more responsive to expectations of alcohol’s effects on drinking patterns [32, 33], and may differ from males in their use of alcohol to deal with life stresses [27, 34].
