The Changing Landscape of Women and Alcohol Harm. A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight
The world is witnessing a crisis hiding in plain sight – alcohol consumption among women is rising at an unprecedented rate. What was once a male-dominated behavior has now been normalized, glamorized, and even marketed as empowerment for women. But behind the glossy advertisements, social media trends, and “wine mom” alcohol norm lies a women’s health and rights crisis: women are experiencing disproportionate and rising harm from alcohol use, and society is unprepared to address it.
Why This Report Matters
This report exposes the hidden toll of the products and practices of alcohol companies on women’s health, rights, and well-being – from rising cases of alcohol-related cancers, to the role alcohol plays in intimate partner violence. The report uncovers the deliberate targeting of women by the alcohol industry and the growing normalization of alcohol consumption in professional, social, and digital spaces. The report also addresses the feminist paradox – why some women’s rights movements have distanced themselves from alcohol policy initiatives, despite the devastating impact the products and practices of alcohol companies have had and are increasingly having on women and girls globally.
Key Findings
- Alcohol is not gender-neutral. Women’s bodies metabolize alcohol differently, making them more vulnerable to alcohol-related diseases, such as breast cancer, faster progression to alcohol use disorder and addiction, and increased risk of other mental health disorders.
- Marketing has shifted from sexualization, objectification, and dehumanisation women to targeting women and girls as consumers. The alcohol industry now co-opts feminist messaging to sell alcohol as a tool of empowerment, wellness, and social bonding – especially targeting young women through social media influencers and digital ads.
- Economic and social inequalities influence alcohol use. While wealthier women may consume alcohol for socialization, low-income women increasingly use alcohol to cope with stress, financial strain, and domestic instability.
- Alcohol fuels gender-based violence. Studies across multiple countries show that alcohol use significantly increases the risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence, including homicide.
- Reproductive health risks are underreported. Beyond pregnancy risks, alcohol disrupts fertility, menstrual health, and increases the likelihood of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are at higher risk. Women in LMICs face compounding harms– from weaker healthcare access to rampant alcohol industry exploitation and aggressive marketing.
Urgent Call for Policy Action
This report makes the case that alcohol harm is a women’s rights issue, a public health crisis, and a social justice emergency. Global health organizations, policymakers, and feminist movements need to prioritize alcohol policy initiatives as urgent and integral part of broader gender equality efforts.
Solutions That Work
To tackle, end and overcome this alcohol-fueled women’s health and rights crisis, this report presents evidence for high-impact policy solutions, including:
- Higher taxes on alcohol – reducing alcohol affordability and investing revenue into public and women’s health programs.
- Higher standards in protecting girls and women from alcohol marketing – banning alcohol advertising, including to outloaw the exploitation of feminist narratives for promoting alcohol is outlawed, as well as banning digital and social media alcohol advertising to protect women and girls from alcohol industry manipulation.
- Tackling alcohol’s role in violence against women – through reducing alcohol availability with evidence-based policies, such as placing common sense limits on opening hours, alcohol outlet density and investing in community interventions.
- Reframing alcohol policy as a human rights issue – embedding it within CEDAW and SDG commitments.
Need for ambitious and accelerated action
We cannot afford inaction. The growing crisis of alcohol harm among women requires ambitious policy action, committed leadership, and a shift in the approach of women’s rights movements. The costs of inaction are already severe and the stakes are high, as alcohol companies target billions of women – especially in low- and middle income countries – to drive alcohol use and profits. Even more women will suffer from avoidable diseases, violence, and economic hardship.
This report is a wake-up call. The time to act is now.