The Scandinavian Medical Alcohol Board(SMAB) hosted the conference in Stockholm on October 30th 1998 at which some of the leading scientists in the field of alcohol and health discussed important issues about alcohol and womens' health.

Prof Calle Bengtsson, Sweden discussed alcohol and diabetes. In the prospective population study of women in Gothenburg, which began in 1968/69 the incidence of diabetes was lowest in women who drank at least weekly and highest in abstainers. Fasting serum insulin concentration at baseline was statistically lower in women drinking weekly, suggesting that moderate consumption has a favourable effect on insulin metabolism in women, and may have a protective effect with respect to diabetes.