A new study by a team of international researchers found that women in the military are less likely to drink than their civilian counterpart.

It is a common belief that military personals drink more than civilian. However, the findings of a new study debunk this theory, at least where military women are concerned. The study found that women in the military are less likely to drink than their civilian counterparts.

"Women react differently to their experience in the military than do men," the researchers wrote in a press statement. "We suspect that part of the reason for the negative link between military service and alcohol use for women is the threat of sexual harassment and assault that is common in the military. Alcohol use is tightly linked to sexual assault, both within and outside the military, and women who serve may become particularly aware of this linkage. It may also be the case that in order to justify their place in the military that women abstain from using alcohol, especially to the extent that their participation in particular military occupation specialties based on use of alcohol is subject to critical review based on their gender."

The study was conducted on 9,000 military personnel and veterans. Respondents were asked about their alcohol consumption in the previous 30 days.

Researchers also found that those who serve in the military for longer durations are likely to drink more. This finding was observed across both genders. Researchers also noted that enlistees who had served in a combat zone were the most likely to use alcohol.

"Our models, while not perfect, provide evidence that military service leads to more alcohol consumption among service members that would have been the case if they had not served," the authors added. "This finding should provide for increased emphasis on efforts to reduce the culture of alcohol consumption in the military."

Findings were published online in the Armed Forces & Society (AFS).