The article is focused on examining the characteristics of alcohol consumption among working women with high social and educational status. The aim of the work is to consider the features of alcoholic behavior of business women – top and middle managers and business owners. The choice of this social group of women is due to the fact that significant negative processes of change in alcoholic behavior occur precisely in this group of women, but in the most hidden way. The situation with the involvement of business women in alcohol consumption is analyzed on the basis of quantitative and qualitative studies conducted by the team of Sector of Sociology of Deviant Behavior of ISRAS – FCTAS RAS. The objectives of the study are to determine the regularity and intensity of alcohol consumption by business women, the structure of alcoholic beverages they consume, the nature of intoxication; to study factors contributing to the alcoholization of business women, attitudes towards alcohol, motives of consumption. It has been shown that business women, in terms of many indicators of alcohol behavior, represent a risk group, characterized by increased alcoholism. The factors contributing to alcoholization of business women are identified, the role of alcohol in their lives is considered, as well as the motives of consumption. The analysis made it possible to identify several social functions of alcohol consumed by business women: alcohol as a resource in professional activities, and alcohol as a way to cope with life difficulties, stress. New patterns of alcoholic behavior of business women represent a form of strategic adaptation to the changed conditions of life.