High-Flying Women Drink Twice As Much As Those In Routine Jobs

Figures from the Office of National Statistics in the UK show that women in top positions, such as managers in large companies, drink a bottle of wine a week on average, around 11.2 units, compared with 6.2 units for female hairdressers, cleaners and factory workers.

According to The Telegraph, Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott said the figures, given in a parliamentary answer, reflect a 'Sex and the City' culture among professional women.

Abbott said: "It is good that more women are out in the workforce and are enjoying social life in pubs and bars. But these disturbingly high figures reveal women’s drinking patterns have changed in a generation, reflecting a silent, middle class epidemic. The problem is not just young 'ladettes'."

She also highlighted the new alcohol figures revealed a problematic ‘cocktail and business card culture’ and that cheap supermarket alcohol had “led more housewives to drink to excess at home,”according to the Evening Standard.

Scroll down to see how stress can be good for you

Official guidance is for women to stick to a medium-size glass of wine a day.

Liver expert Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, a former president of the Royal College of Physicians, said that some women in senior posts were using alcohol as a 'stress-buster' to combat the difficulties of balancing their work and family commitments, reports The Daily Mail.

Sir Ian said: "While alcohol may help people to reduce stress when used occasionally, if it’s used regularly as a stress-buster, there is a real risk of it leading to dependence."

"In the poorer parts of society there are likely to be more non-drinkers but also more people drinking in a harmful way which explains why the biggest burden on health damage is seen in poorer communities."