Men '100pct more likely than women to become alcoholics'

London, Jan 26 (ANI): A new study by a team of American researchers has revealed that men are twice as likely as women to become alcoholics. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, claims that men have a 20 per cent risk developing a drink problem in their lifetimes, and 10 per cent chance of becoming hooked.

According to the researchers, the seeds of abuse and dependence on alcohol often begins in the late to mid 20s.

However, they estimated that the lifetime risk for women abusing alcohol was only between 8 and 10 per cent.

Earlier this week, official figures revealed that millions of Brits are putting their health at in danger by spending too many evenings at home with a bottle of wine.

Official guidelines warn that men should drink no more than three to four units a day and women no more than two to three.

However, experts warn that a trend for stronger wines and the increase in the average glass size in recent years have made it increasingly difficult for people to measure how much they are drinking.

One large glass of wine is now the equivalent if three units, they warn, meaning it is potentially quite easy to exceed the daily limit on a regular basis.

The American researchers have warned that the effects can be extremely damaging to health.

However, they added that problem drinking can be tackled successfully.

"Despite perceptions to the contrary, efforts to help patients decrease heavy drinking commonly result in changes in behaviours, and most patients with alcohol-use disorders do well after treatment," the Telegraph quoted Dr Marc Schuckit, from the University of California, San Diego, as stating in the Lancet medical journal.

"About 50 to 60 per cent of men and women with alcohol dependence abstain or show substantial improvements in functioning the year after treatment, and such outcomes are excellent predictors of their status at three to five years," he added. (ANI)