Women’s Rights movement and alcohol policy initiatives in the past
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many women became involved in addressing the social issues that alcohol brought to their families and communities, such as domestic violence and financial instability. They advocated for broader social reforms and women’s rights, arguing that women needed the right to vote to enact meaningful social change, including alcohol regulation (Berridge, 2005; Winters 2018).
Leading feminists historically advocated for alcohol policy solutions by highlighting the detrimental impact of alcohol on women and families and leveraging their organizational platforms to push for legislative change.
Key ways they did this (Ambrose, 2018; Gusfield, 1955)
Five key ways the women’s rights movement advanced alcohol policy reform and won women’s health and rights progress:
Domestic Violence and Family Welfare: Women’s Rights activists made the case that alcohol played a major role in domestic violence, poverty, and family breakdown. They highlighted how women and children suffered from the financial and physical harm that resulted from men’s alcohol use.
Feminists were instrumental in the passage of local and national alcohol laws. They lobbied legislators, organized petitions, and held public demonstrations to advocate for alcohol policy change.
Leading Women’s Rights activists conducted educational campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol. They used lectures, pamphlets, and the press to disseminate information about the negative effects of alcohol on health and society. These campaigns were aimed at both men and women but often focused on empowering women to demand change in their households and communities.
The Women’s Rights movement made the case that giving women the right to vote was essential for passing effective alcohol laws. They contended that women, as the primary victims of men’s alcohol use, had a vested interest in supporting legislation that prevents and reduces alcohol harm in society and needed the vote to influence policy.
Collaborations and Alliances
Leading feminists often worked in coalition with other social reform movements, such as labor unions and religious groups, to advance alcohol policy reform. These alliances broadened the base of support and helped to amplify the feminist voice in public policy debates.
Leading feminists advocated for alcohol laws by emphasizing the social harms of alcohol, leveraging organizational leadership, pushing for legislative changes, conducting public education campaigns, linking alcohol policy reform to women’s suffrage, and building broad-based coalitions. Their efforts were crucial in advancing both alcohol policy and women’s rights, highlighting the interconnectedness of these progressive social reform movements.
Women’s Rights movement and alcohol policy initiatives now
In the 21st century, leading feminist organizations have abandoned the cause of alcohol policy reform to advance women’s health and rights. They are ignoring the roots of the women’s rights movement.
A frequently cited reason for this is that alcohol use is often employed to victimize women and excuse men’s behaviourrooted in societal power structures. Feminist advocates argue that focusing on alcohol policy could distract from addressing the fundamental and systemic issues of gender inequality. The second reason cited is that advocating for policies that reduce population-level alcohol consumption would potentially undermine women’s freedom of choice and expression. They believe that the root causes of violence and discrimination against women lie in deeply ingrained societal norms and structures, which require comprehensive approaches rather than targeting alcohol use alone (Peralta, 2011; Movendi International, 2020).
Moreover, feminist organizations emphasize that alcohol policies could inadvertently reinforce paternalistic attitudes, limiting women’s autonomy over their personal choices. They advocate for broader strategies that address the underlying social and economic factors contributing to women’s vulnerability, rather than singling out alcohol as a key obstacle to improving women’s health and rights. This approach aligns with the broader goals of gender equality and empowerment, ensuring that women have the freedom to make informed choices about their lives and bodies without external restrictions that may be perceived as moralistic or controlling (Movendi International, 2020).
Feminist movements in the 21st century prioritize holistic and intersectional strategies to combat gender inequality, focusing on structural changes and empowerment rather than alcohol policies alone.
But with this approach, they fail to recognize the severe burden alcohol harm places on women and girls, the roots of their own movement, the commercial determinants of women’s health, and the reality of alcohol harm’s multi-dimensional effects across policy areas and sectors of society.
With this flawed approach to alcohol harm in women and girls, feminist movements of the 21st century are also at odds with local and community-based organizations – especially in low- and middle-income countries. They hold a different perspective and identify alcohol policy, as urgent, important, and effective tools for reducing and preventing violence and discrimination within their communities. These grassroots organizations are on the front lines, witnessing first-hand the detrimental impacts of alcohol, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of interpersonal violence – a reality that is all too similar in 2025 for women in India, Vietnam, Uganda, and Colombia, compared to women in the United States, the UK, and Scandinavia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
For example, community initiatives frequently report a direct correlation between alcohol use and heightened rates of violence, particularly against women and children. By advocating for better alcohol policies, such as reducing the availability of alcohol, increasing taxes, and implementing awareness campaigns, these organizations aim to mitigate these harms and foster safer, more equitable communities (Movendi International, 2020; Movendi International 2024).
Furthermore, local groups emphasize that alcohol policy initiatives can empower communities by addressing one of the root causes of social issues. These women-led, youth-led, and community-based organizations make the case that effective alcohol policy can lead to a decrease in household expenditure on alcohol, public health costs, crime rates, and can thus lead to improved overall quality of life. They also highlight that alcohol policy initiatives often go hand-in-hand with broader social justice initiatives, tackling intersecting issues of poverty, unemployment, and lack of education, which are frequently fueled, fomented, and perpatuated by alcohol use (Movendi International, 2020; Movendi International 2024; WHO 2024b).
By focusing on community-level interventions and policy changes, these organizations strive to create environments where people, particularly women and marginalized groups, can thrive without the pervasive threat of alcohol harm.
Their advocacy underscores the importance of decolonizing the women’s rights movement to give greater space and voice to the experiences of women in local communities in low- and middle-income countries.
For them comprehensive alcohol policy reform is an essential part of a broader strategy to eradicate violence and discrimination, and promoting female empowerment. Effective alcohol policy is a critical component of social change and community well-being and protecting women and girls from the harms caused by alcohol companies matters in 2025, as it did hundred years ago.
No Doubt it is alcohol
Scientific evidence consistently shows that implementing alcohol policies significantly reduce violence against women. Addressing alcohol harm in women and girls through evidence-based alcohol policy solutions has been proven to lower the incidence of alcohol harm in women, such as violence, even when other variables such as age, ethnicity, socio-economic status change (Heise, 2011; Prevention Collective 2024).
Proven Interventions
There are four broad interventions that are scientifically unimpeachable for promoting women’s health and rights:
Short, structured conversations aimed at reducing alcohol consumption have shown effectiveness in lowering alcohol use and subsequently reducing instances of violence against women (WHO, 2009).
Community-Based Interventions
Programs that engage communities in alcohol prevention and violence reduction efforts create supportive environments that prevent and reduce alcohol use and violent behaviour (WHO, 2009).
Policies such as increased alcohol taxes, limited sales hours, and reduced alcohol outlet density decrease overall alcohol consumption in communities, leading to a reduction in violence against women (WHO, 2009; Lippy, 2014).
Self-Help Programs
Resources and support groups for individuals seeking to reduce and quit alcohol consumption empowers people to address the underlying psychological issues covered by their alcohol use and lead to better self-understanding, thereby reducing the risk of violence (WHO, 2009).
World Health Organization Recommendations
The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the importance of reducing population-level alcohol use as a primary measure to prevent violence against women. Addressing alcohol consumption in the population is part of a set of evidence-based measures, recommended by the WHO.
These best practices to prevent and reduce violence against women are (Moreno, 2013):
- Changing Social Norms Around Gender and Violence,
- Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment,
- Addressing Childhood Exposure to Violence,
- Legal and Justice System Interventions, and
- Addressing Alcohol Use.
Although alcohol policy is one of the most effective measures of the WHO comprehensive package to eliminate violence against women, each of the remaining four measures can be catalysed through alcohol policy solutions.
Changing Social Norms Around Gender and Violence
Efforts to transform societal attitudes that normalize violence against women reduce its prevalence. Alcohol prevention plays a role in reshaping these norms, for example but not exclusively by banning alcohol advertising (Heise, 2011).
Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment
Empowering women economically and socially can reduce their vulnerability to violence. Arguments about finances in the family are often related to the significant amounts spent on inessential products and services such as alcohol. Policies that limit alcohol availability and reduce affordability contribute to reduced alcohol use and safer environments for women (World Bank, 2023).
Addressing Childhood Exposure to Violence
Violence under the influence of alcohol is often carried out in the presence of children (or even against children directly). Reducing alcohol consumption among parents and caregivers lowers the risk of children being exposed to adverse childhood experiences, such as domestic violence and of them replicating such violent behaviours in adulthood (WHO, 2009).
Legal and Justice System Interventions
Strengthening legal frameworks and ensuring robust enforcement of laws against domestic violence, supported by alcohol laws, can protect women and deter perpetrators. Using alcohol use as a mitigating circumstance in courts is a harmful practice that exacerbates violence against women by diminishing the accountability of perpetrators and potentially leading to more lenient sentencing.
This approach undermines the severity of the crime, minimizes the victims’ suffering, and perpetuates a culture of impunity, where offenders feel they can evade full responsibility if they claim alcohol intoxication.
It also reinforces societal norms that tolerate violence against women, discourages victims from reporting incidents, and ignores the need for comprehensive interventions to reduce alcohol-related violence. To effectively address and eradicate violence against women, it is essential for the legal system to hold perpetrators fully accountable for their actions, regardless of their level of alcohol intoxication (WHO, 2014).
Implementing comprehensive alcohol policies and prevention strategies not only helps in reducing alcohol consumption but also plays a critical role in mitigating violence against women. The WHO’s multifaceted recommendations highlight the importance of integrating alcohol control measures within broader efforts to promote gender equality and safety. By addressing alcohol use, communities can create safer environments that protect women from violence and support their overall well-being.