One in 20 women has NEVER had sex sober as they lack body confidence

Millions of women drink alcohol before having sex because they lack confidence in their bodies, a study has found.

Almost half of those questioned said they preferred sex while under the influence of alcohol because it helped them to lose their inhibitions and be more adventurous.

Researchers, who surveyed 3,000 women aged between 18 and 50, found the average woman has slept with eight men, but was drunk with at least five of them.

On two of these occasions they couldn't even remember the man's name the next day.

Sobering thought: Three quarters of women claim they feel more able to let their hair down and go wild with a few drinks inside them

Dutch courage: One in six admitted they 'didn't have the confidence' to sleep with someone when they were sober

Three quarters of women claimed they felt more able to let their hair down and go wild after a few drinks.

Four out of ten have 'always' been a bit tipsy when they have slept with a partner for the first time. But astonishingly 48.5 per cent said they preferred sex while under the influence.

The study also found that 75 per cent of women said they liked to drink before getting into bed with their husband or boyfriend. Some 6 per cent of women have never had sex while sober.

More than half of women polled claimed drinking with a prospective partner was 'part of the dating process' so they were bound to be a bit drunk when they had sex.

It was also revealed 14 per cent of women in a relationship can't face sleeping with their partner unless they had a couple of glasses of wine beforehand.

Kathryn Lakeland of Femfresh, which carried out the study, said the results showed how women are severely lacking in confidence.



She added: 'The fact alcohol plays an integral role in their love lives shows that women are looking for a boost in self-esteem when it comes to their bedroom antics.

'Whilst many women claim they only drink before sex because it is part of the dating process, a large percentage will actually refuse to get between the sheets without a bit of Dutch courage.

'But in doing so many women will be losing self control and this is when drunken one night stands are more likely to occur.'