Alcohol dependence in women is a problem in the contemporary society. The change of the traditional woman's role is accompanied by an increasing rate of women who abuse alcohol. It is therefore necessary to create treatment and preventive interventions adjusted to this population. Alcoholism in women differs greatly according to age groups. Adolescents, young females, middle-aged women and older women have different etiological factors underlying their drinking problem. The characteristics and the drinking habits also differ greatly in young and older women. For the period of adolescence, the most important risk factors are behavioral problems, problems at school and family history and environment. For women in young adulthood, the most important risk factors are problems associated with the role and health problems. For the women of older age, the most important are widowhood and retirement issues. This article shows that, the likelihood of developing alcoholism increases as the risk factors become more numerous. The above risk factors suggest the connection with the development of alcohol dependence but do not prove causality.