JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Alcohol consumption remains a major societal problem, contributing to myriad health conditions and costing Australia $6.8 billion a year. Australian midlife women (45-64 years) consume more alcohol than ever – more than previous generations of midlife women and more than other age groups of women currently. Alcohol poses health risks unique to midlife women, including increased risk of breast cancer - 10% of breast cancers result from alcohol consumption and there is no ‘safe’ limit (every drink over the lifecourse further increases risk for breast cancer). There is a global gap in knowledge about socially and culturally appropriate interventions for reducing alcohol consumption in these heavy-drinking groups of midlife women. This project aims to reduce alcohol consumption in 4 heavy drinking groups of midlife women by developing/testing co-designed interventions aimed at changing social practices around alcohol. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the personal, social and cultural drivers of heavy drinking using novel interdisciplinary approaches combining social practice theory, critical consciousness and pedagogies of oppression and hope. Expected outcomes include: community-level actions and policy/practice levers for alcohol reduction; and enhanced capacity for the research team to address the societal impacts of alcohol on the global stage. This should provide significant benefits in terms of reducing alcohol consumption for midlife women.