The Secret Ways That Alcohol Impacts Women 😬

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This Halloween marked my 2nd alcohol-free celebration with the kids! 🎃

All I can say is WOW! There’s something so special about spending these moments fully present, soaking in every laugh and every spooky little costume.

I shared a bit of this on Instagram, but truly, this has given me a whole new appreciation for the memories I’m making with them:

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Speaking of transformations, this week’s podcast episode features Kenya Alexander-Davis, who brings a whole new level of inspiration.

Kenya’s journey into the cannabis industry has been anything but traditional. From her corporate America background to her fierce advocacy for creative expression and destigmatizing cannabis, she’s proof that stepping outside the lines is where real growth happens. 

Together, we explored what it means to stay authentic in a world that constantly tries to mold us into something else and how embracing that authenticity can be one of the most empowering steps in finding your voice!

So let’s get into it—grab your favorite cozy drink, settle in, and embrace this week with open minds and open hearts.

-Monica

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“What are three surprising ways alcohol impacts women specifically?”

You might be shocked at just how differently the female body processes substances in general, but the impacts of alcohol specifically are quite intense. Let’s break them down:

1. DNA Damage & Cancer Risk

Alcohol transforms into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which can damage DNA in our cells. For women, this risk is heightened due to alcohol’s interaction with estrogen, a hormone that, when elevated, is linked to breast cancer.

Studies are starting to show that there is no “safe” level of alcohol for women because of this very connection to cancer risk.

2. Higher Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Women’s bodies handle alcohol differently, and not in a good way! Due to lower body water content and slower metabolizing enzymes, women reach higher BACs faster than men, and the effects linger longer.

This means even moderate drinking can expose women to more intense and lasting effects, potentially leading to more significant health risks.

3. More Vulnerability to Mental Health Issues

Alcohol can amplify issues like depression and anxiety, conditions that already impact women more than men. For many women, alcohol becomes a way to self-medicate, creating a tough cycle of dependency.

This is a huge reason to reframe our understanding of drinking as more than just a social habit—it's often tied to underlying struggles that deserve attention and compassion.

(P.S. Do you have a question you’d like answered here? Reply to this email, and we’ll include it in a future edition!)

Education Spotlight: Alcohol & Your DNA

Earlier this year, I had a very informative conversation with Dr. Austin Baeth. We dug into how alcohol affects our DNA and, ultimately, our cancer risk.

Alcohol doesn’t just affect the liver; when broken down in the body, it turns into acetaldehyde, a powerful carcinogen. Acetaldehyde disrupts cellular functions by damaging our DNA, essentially rewriting it in ways that promote cancer growth.

While many of us are familiar with alcohol’s impact on the liver, the reality is that its effects extend much further, linking it to at least seven types of cancer: mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast cancer.

Women Are Especially Vulnerable

One thing Dr. Austin noted (we touched on this earlier) is that women are especially vulnerable to these risks. Alcohol’s interaction with estrogen significantly increases the likelihood of breast cancer, a risk factor many may not realize when reaching for a drink.

There’s Still Hope!

Dr. Austin highlighted studies showing that reducing alcohol—even if it’s not complete abstinence—can lower exposure to these health risks.

In fact, Canada has moved forward with stricter guidelines, now suggesting zero alcohol consumption for health. While the U.S. still recommends moderate drinking, we might see changes aligning with current research when the new guidelines are released in 2025.

The Bottom Line?

It’s about awareness and informed choices. Even small changes, like reducing weekly drinks, can have a big impact on long-term health—especially when it comes to DNA and cancer risk.

If you want to hear more on this important topic, check out the episode with Dr. Austin below!

Announcement: Monthly Wrap-Up

Starting with this edition, we’re shifting gears! Our “What We’re Drinking” and “Products with a Purpose” sections will now be featured in a monthly wrap-up format.

While sharing weekly drink features and spotlights has been great, we realized that packing everything into each newsletter was starting to feel a bit... too much. 

This new monthly format will focus on delivering a tight summary with key themes, educational insights, and takeaways—making it easier for you to stay in the loop without feeling overwhelmed.

Thank you for being part of our journey as we fine-tune the newsletter to bring you the best, most valuable content. Here’s to learning, growing, and keeping it real together!

Healing Out Loud - So Others Don’t Have To:

A Family Bonded by Loss and a Legacy of Unspoken Trauma

At 17, I experienced a tragedy that would haunt me for years.

It was a summer night before my senior year, and I was out with friends in a gas station parking lot, securing beer for the night. Then my mom called—again and again, until I picked up.

Her voice was steady but serious: "Something happened to your cousin Chad. You need to come home now."

I rushed home, where she told me what little she knew—Chad had died in a car accident. We immediately went to my aunt’s house, a blur of tears and disbelief, piecing together that Chad, like most of us Roerig cousins, had been partying.

But he had also been drinking and driving, crashing his car and killing both himself and the 15-year-old girl with him.

Chad was only 18, freshly graduated, and his little brother, away on a study abroad trip in France, had to get that horrifying call and fly home to face a reality none of us were prepared for.

We rallied around each other, forming a bond that only such tragedy can create. But here’s the hard truth: even with this painful loss, we didn’t change our ways. We still partied.

Alcohol was too deeply woven into our family’s life, our culture. No one ever really said, "This needs to change."

Instead, Chad’s death became this unspoken trauma we each carried, but without ever confronting it. It felt easier to accept it as a tragic mistake than to acknowledge how alcohol was impacting us all.

Breaking these patterns and family dynamics is hard. Society’s expectations run deep.

But sharing this story is my step toward change—an invitation to all of us to reflect and reconsider.

(P.S. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Reply to this email, and we’ll include it in a future edition!)

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