Summary: New research shows women aged 50 to 70 are more likely than younger women to drink above low-risk alcohol guidelines. Many in this age group regard their drinking as normal and acceptable so long as they appear controlled and respectable.
Source: Edith Cowan University
Women aged 50–70 more likely to exceed low-risk alcohol guidelines — and many consider it acceptable
Recent research from Edith Cowan University (ECU), conducted in collaboration with Aalborg University in Denmark, examined how women aged 50 to 69 understand and socially construct their alcohol use. The study explored the attitudes and behaviours of 49 women in Denmark and Australia, revealing that many middle-aged and young-old women who drink at levels above national low-risk guidelines view their drinking as normal and socially acceptable, particularly when they maintain an appearance of control and respectability.
The study was led by Dr Julie Dare of ECU’s School of Medical and Health Sciences. It focused on the social meanings and everyday practices that shape drinking among women in this age range, rather than solely focusing on biomedical risk messaging. In Australia, national guidance indicates that consuming more than two standard drinks on any day raises the risk of premature mortality across a woman’s lifetime; similar public health warnings exist in other countries.
Key findings
- For many women aged 50–70, social markers such as appearing in control, behaving respectably, enjoying social connection and feeling liberated are more decisive than the absolute quantity of alcohol or the long-term health risks.
- Some participants reduced drinking because of health concerns, but others described ways of offsetting perceived risk—such as exercising regularly or otherwise engaging in healthy behaviours—to justify continued higher consumption.
- Public health messages about standard drink limits and single-occasion thresholds often felt irrelevant to these women. Interventions aimed at middle-aged and young-old women need to engage with the social and subjective reasons that shape drinking practices, not only clinical risk information.
Perceptions of controlled and acceptable drinking
Dr Dare noted that alcohol use was widely accepted among the women in both countries. Many participants described drinking as an ordinary, routine part of social life with friends, family and acquaintances. One Danish respondent reflected that drinking had become “part of the norm” — a habitual social activity shared among peers.
However, acceptability was frequently conditional: staying in control and avoiding shameful or disordered behaviour were essential qualifiers. Women described boundaries around intoxication and public embarrassment, with a clear preference for maintaining composure and dignity while drinking.
Examples from interviews captured this balance. Women expressed that as long as they did not “make a fool of themselves,” and managed their behaviour so it remained respectable and discreet, their drinking was socially acceptable. This emphasis on appearance of control often overrode concern about exceeding recommended drink limits.
Health advice that recommends no more than two standard drinks per day, and no more than four on any single occasion, did not resonate with many participants. The researchers observed that while Australian younger women have reduced drinking rates in recent years, the proportion of women aged 60 and older who exceed single-occasion limits has increased; comparable trends are seen in Denmark and the UK.
Cultural differences in attitudes toward drinking and stress
The study also identified a cultural distinction between the Australian and Danish participants in how they viewed drinking in relation to stress. Australian women were more inclined to accept drinking as a short-term coping strategy after a difficult day or episode of distress, often openly saying they deserved a drink to unwind. In contrast, Danish women generally rejected alcohol as a coping mechanism, expressing the view that using alcohol to manage emotions was not appropriate.
These differences suggest that public health responses should be sensitive to cultural norms and to the subjective meanings that women attach to drinking, including social connection, stress relief and self-care narratives.
Source:
Edith Cowan University
Media contact:
Tori Pree – Edith Cowan University
Image source:
The image used in this article is in the public domain.
Original research
Title: “Women of my age tend to drink”: the social construction of alcohol use by Australian and Danish women aged 50–70 years.
Authors: Julie Dare, Celia Wilkinson, Line Traumer, Kathrine H. Kusk, Marie‐Louise McDermott, Lynsey Uridge, Mette Grønkjær.
Published in Sociology of Health & Illness. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12991
Abstract (summary)
The research examined how women aged 50–70 in Australia and Denmark make sense of their drinking and why this age group shows higher rates of alcohol consumption above national low-risk guidelines than younger women. Interviews with 49 women showed drinking was widely viewed as normal and acceptable. Although some women reduced intake because of health concerns, others compensated for alcohol-related health risks through behaviors such as increased exercise. These social constructions help maintain at-risk drinking in some women. The study concludes that efforts to reduce alcohol-related harms among middle-aged and young-old women should address the social and subjective meanings of drinking—especially the value placed on appearing in control—rather than relying solely on biomedical risk messages.