How Does Drinking Lead to Unsafe Sex?

A new study might put up a red flag for those who were planning on partying hard this holiday season. The more alcohol a person consumes, the more likely they are to have unprotected sex, according to a new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada.

Researchers found that an 0.1 mg/mL increase in blood alcohol levels raised the likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behavior by five percent. According to The Atlantic, this translates to four drinks for the average American female and five drinks for males, respectively.

Since alcohol abuse is one of the leading factors in HIV transmission, lead author Juergen Rehm said HIV prevention programs should put additional focus on reducing heavy drinking.

The full study, "Alcohol Consumption and the Intention to Engage in Unprotected Sex: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies," appears in the journal Addiction.