Northern beaches drinking: Survey finds a third of women are heavy drinkers
A survey of women on the northern beaches found that a third were heavy drinkers, with experts blaming social media hashtags such a #wineoclock for giving people an excuse to crack open a bottle.
Manly
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A survey of women on the northern beaches has found that a third are high risk drinkers.
And, more than half of those aged 35 to 59 who live on the peninsula believe there is problematic drinking among women in their age group in the area.
Out of a total of 583 women surveyed, which was predominantly made up of working mums with a degree, 97 per cent drank alcohol, with 32 per cent being moderate-risk drinkers and 33 per cent high-risk drinkers.
The preferred drink of the moderate and high risk drinkers was wine.
Most reported using alcohol for enjoyment, socialisation and to cope with stress from the complexities and pressures of life.
Melissa Palermo, Health Promotion Manager for Northern Sydney Local Health District, said the survey was undertaken because the peninsula had a higher than average number of women hospitalised for alcohol related issues.
She said women aged 35 to 54 years were over-represented in these figures and specifically the number of women on the northern beaches attending hospital for alcohol related issues was 40 per cent above the NSW rate.
Ms Palermo said while the figures may be inflated by the number of private hospitals in northern Sydney, peninsula women are increasingly exceeding the safe drinking guidelines and are accessing local drug and alcohol services in increasing numbers.
“All of these data sources point to an increasing level of alcohol related harm among northern beaches women,” she said.
The survey found women predominantly drank alcohol in social situations with 61 per cent drinking in the home environment.
In addition, 81 per cent of women reported all gatherings they attended had alcohol present.
“Even more concerning was that 60 per cent of women said all child-orientated gatherings they attend had alcohol available,” Ms Palermo said.
Anecdotally she added that people had reported alcohol was being drunk at children’s parties from as early as 10am.
Despite alcohol playing a large role in women’s lives, nearly 40 per cent of moderate drinkers and almost sixty per cent of high-risk drinkers wanted to reduce their consumption of alcohol, the survey found.
Ms Palermo slammed social media hashtags such as #wineo’clock and #pinkdrinks for glorifying drinking and giving women an excuse to drink.
“It’s a hashtag that grants women permission to drink,” she said.
“It’s about changing the norm.”
She also said that no alcohol should be available at children’s events and she said adults should make children’s parties about the children, not them.
She said that parents are role models for their children.
Reformed binge drinker Rachel Hind, 45, a lawyer, accountant and trained recovery and sobriety coach, is also on the board of the Northern Beaches Community Drug Action Team.
She said she wasn’t surprised to see the results of the survey as she has helped many
women with drinking problems on the peninsula.
“The northern beaches is an expensive place to live and for many it requires a two income
household,” Ms Hind, a mum-of-two, said.
“Women are under a lot of stress and pressure and drinking is often a coping mechanism, a
way to self-medicate.
“It’s a big problem for women in the middle aged group who are trying to juggle full-time
work, children, a husband and run a household.”
Ms Hind who gave up her high-pressure executive banking job in the city to set up her own
finance and brokering business, said she swapped binge drinking for meditating and running
and every aspect of her life was better now.
“My productivity is better, I am a better wife and mother,” she said.
Alyssa Lalor, program director at addiction treatment centre, South Pacific Private in Curl Curl, said they had noticed a spike in cases since COVID-19.
“We do see a lot of clients from the northern beaches and what I can say is people are definitely drinking more or noticing that they drink more in recent months because there’s nowhere to hide it anymore,” she said.
“They’re home and people at home are pushing them into treatment, it’s not normalised anymore.
“It’s not hidden anymore, husbands, flatmates, children are at home to see it so maybe that’s part of the visibility around drinking on the northern beaches.
“I’m not surprised (women have been found as high risk drinkers). I think it’s a pre misconception that men are the drinkers and women aren’t. It’s just as problematic for women, a lot of women are stay at home mums and working from home so it’s a lot more visible.
“Stresses have increased, people have lost their jobs. Someone who is drinking might have slipped into an addictive cycle to take the edge off and need more and more to take the edge off so I’m not surprised at all. There’s more stigma of women drinking then men definitely.”
Mental health advocate and northern beaches councillor Kylie Ferguson said “we have always had an issue with drinking on the beaches”.
“These statistics make me very sad... I’m sure the pandemic hasn’t helped,” she said.
“Drinking moderately for socialisation is fine, but drinking to cope or for stress is not good, not good at all and that’s where the problem lies.
“We have to be mindful of friends and keep and eye out on them. Always seek counselling, if you’re not coping reach out, there’s so many agencies out there.
“I think I first realised there was a drinking problem when I began reading the Manly Daily and there’d always be people in court over drink driving. You don’t only put your life at risk, but others lives at risk, it’s so sad.”
Ms Palermo said women, or anyone wishing to reduce their drinking to speak with a health professional or directly contact the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service on 1300 806 258 or visit gethealthynsw.com.au.
A free confidential app Drinks Meter provides personalised feedback on alcohol use based on advice from doctors.
It has tools to support reducing your drinking including a diary, goal setting, KJ comparisons and an interactive pouring tool.
Drinks Meter can be found on NSW Health’s Your Room website.