However, because research has pointed to important gender differences in the social pressures, opportunities, and expectations that promote or constrain drinking behavior, the disinhibition pathway may lead to distinct patterns of alcohol consumption and dependence in men and women. Broadly, research has consistently documented higher rates of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems among men (Gomberg 1997). Estimates based on nationally-representative samples suggested that the male to female ratio for the prevalence of alcohol dependence was about 2.5:1 (Grant 1997; Kessler et al. 1994). Though the gender gap in alcohol consumption has been narrowing over time, recent estimates indicate that men in the youngest cohorts are still nearly twice as likely to develop dependence compared to similar-aged women (Keyes et al. 2008).
