Sex.co.nz

The next time you go out on the town, consider this: half of the women you see prefer drunken sex to sober sex.

British researchers have discovered the shocking truth that approximately 1 in 6 women (14%) won’t have sex unless they’re tipsy.

In fact, 1 in 20 women (6%) has NEVER had sex without drinking first.

Why are women so dependent on alcohol to have a good time in bed? Does alcohol really make the sexual experience that much better? Or does it just make women hornier?

All of us know that drinking can help loosen our inhibitions and make us feel more confident. Three out of four women (75%) rely on these effects to help them “let their hair down” and “go wild.”

It’s also understandable that women would want a little “liquid courage” in the initial stages of dating. It takes guts to face the prospect of sleeping with someone new for the first time, especially if you just met or if you really like the other person. Alcohol can provide women and men alike with a welcome boost in confidence.

But what’s strange is that the study found that women in long-term relationships still rely on alcohol to help them perform in bed.

Even though these women already have a husband or a boyfriend – and presumably feel confident and comfortable around him – 3 out of 4 still like to have a drink before having sex.

The study’s sponsor, Femfresh, believes that so many women rely on alcohol because they’re lacking in sexual confidence.

A 2009 study by women’s magazine Glamour found that more than 40% of women don’t feel good about their bodies.

So are women having drunken sex in order to avoid the self-consciousness of being seen naked?

It's a sobering thought.

What these women don't realize is that the very same "couple of drinks" that gives them courage also makes them more likely to engage in risky practices, like unsafe sex. "Beer glasses" can make them feel attracted to men they would otherwise not normally feel attracted to. If a woman has consumed enough alcohol, she may experience difficulties reaching orgasm or even remembering what happened the morning after.

Ultimately, a drink or two won't do any harm, but women who consistently get intoxicated before sex should consider other means of confidence boosting. Sexy lingerie, perhaps?