According to an international study published in British medical journal - The Lancet, Canadians seem to be drinking more, largely because more women are knocking 'em back, with 'high-risk drinking' also on the rise in the country.

International researchers and Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health responsible for the study say, alcohol-related deaths are increasing worldwide, especially in countries with emerging economies.

The study findings reveal that up from 3.2% to 3.8% from nearly a decade ago; one in 25-deaths globally can be directly attributed to alcohol consumption, with the increase mainly because more women have taken to drinking.

Not a surprising revelation as its become just more socially acceptable for women to drink, with stress seeing people unwinding with alcohol, as also the fact that women are getting married and having kids, later.

Alcohol can influence several hormonal systems in the body, causing various diseases like mouth and throat, colorectal and breast cancers, including strokes. Most alcohol-related deaths are caused by injuries, cancer, cardiovascular disease and liver cirrhosis, and unlike most 'traditional' diseases, alcohol tends to impact younger people.

Women who drink thee drinks per day on average, increase the risk of getting breast cancer by about 15%, meaning perhaps only one in 20-cases of breast cancer are due to alcohol consumption, which is why the public ignores alcohol as a carcinogen.

The report notes alcohol consumption also lead to accidental, premature deaths.