Which pattern qualifies as alcoholism in women?

• A. 14 drinks per week or 4 on a single day
• B. 3 drinks per week or 1 on a single day
• C. 7 drinks per week or 3 or more on a single day
• D. 21 drinks per week or 5 on a single day

Answer: (C)

For women, patterns of alcohol use that raise concern are defined by specific thresholds: more than seven drinks in a typical week, or three or more drinks on a single day. This lower limit compared with men reflects physiological differences that make women more sensitive to alcohol’s effects.

The correct pattern matches these exact cutoffs: seven or more drinks per week, or three or more on a single day. The other options use thresholds that don’t align with these standard benchmarks (for example, using 14, 21, or 4 or 5 on a day, or downplaying weekly or daily amounts), so they don’t represent the same risk level.