Substance Abuse News

Multiple national surveys show that not only is binge drinking up for women during their 30s, 40s, and older, but women in their midlife years have increased their binge drinking at about twice the rate as older women. This trend has contributed to preventable diseases and premature death among these groups of women.

"While binge drinking has increased for both groups, alcohol use disorder rates have been fairly stable in both groups," said presenter Sarah McKetta, post-doctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School. "These findings suggest that women during midlife and older ages are drinking more than ever, but they are drinking in ways that don't necessarily meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder. But more alcohol is still more alcohol, and even people who don't have an alcohol use disorder can experience long-term side effects."

Multiple Social Causes

"We've found that these increases are concentrated among women with high socioeconomic status and relative privilege," said McKetta. "This includes women with high education and high income, and women who work in prestigious careers." She added that these changes are due to multiple social causes.

"One theory for why is stress – people are experiencing increased stressors, and they are drinking to cope," she explained. "Our research also suggests that changes in cultural attitudes and gender norms are large contributors; for example, women drink more in places that are more gender equal, where it's more socially acceptable for women to consume alcohol."

"In addition, women have also delayed major life events, including childbearing, and as a result they have the resources and freedom to spend money on entertainment and things that bring them pleasure. Alcohol is one of these things. Finally, alcohol advertisers have poured billions of dollars into marketing specifically for women in the past decade. I believe all of these social forces have contributed to women's binge drinking."

More Screening Needed

Another important finding is that LGBTQ+ women are not increasing their alcohol use. "LGBTQ+ women historically drink alcohol at higher rates," noted McKetta, "but we found that cisgender, heterosexual women have increased alcohol use so much that there's no longer a difference in binge drinking between these two groups during midlife. So, we know these increases aren't being driven by more people identifying as LGBTQ+"

McKetta said her research demonstrates a priority need to try to reduce drinking in these groups. "Primary care providers should be screening all of their patients for alcohol use. Women are less likely to get screened for alcohol use or alcohol use disorder than men are, and older women are even less likely to receive screening. It's also important that the public understand that alcohol treatment does not have to be inpatient, they don't necessarily need to check into a facility."

Alcohol Does Not Improve Health

Another source of help may involve workplace interventions, McKetta added. "A lot of social drinking is connected to workplace culture, so institutional-level interventions to reduce drinking can have a reverberating impact. This can include awareness and health trainings by specialists, as well as changing workplace practices like not reimbursing alcohol spending or hosting sober happy hours."

"I know it's a bummer, but I want to reinforce that no amount of alcohol use improves health. We used to think moderate drinking was heart healthy, but that is old science that has been disproven. We now know that the best thing people can do for their health is limit their alcohol use."

^{Source: McKetta, S, et al. "Risky Alcohol Use Among Women in the Midlife and Older Ages: Trends and Determinants." Research Society on Alcohol 22 June 2025.}

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