[Female alcoholic consumption between search for equality and increase of risk: which prevention?]

During the latest 5 years, Italy noticed an increase in the number of consumers, mainly among women and young people, together with a general drop in the consumption of alcohol. Among women, and particularly among young women, the trend toward higher and extra meals consumption is growing, mainly in bars or discos, in accordance with a pattern imported by North Europe countries. We suppose that the success of such a model of consumption among women is linked, for its peculiarities, customs and contexts involved, to the attainment of a status of a greater emancipation and equality with men, which is considered an important value in this historical period. Nowadays women seem to be more exposed to the risk of alcohol-related problems just because of their search for emancipation and equality. In that situation, we need measures of prevention specifically aimed at the female population, informing women about the specific risks and responsibilities connected with the female role in the field of alcohol consumption. In the mean time these measures of prevention must be able to respect the search of equality and emancipation that has been motivating the evolution of female behaviours for the latest years.