In recent decades, the gender gap between men and women’s alcohol consumption has closed; a 2016 analysis of 68 international studies showed that for those born in the late 1990s, men were only 1.1 times more likely to drink alcohol than women, 1.2 times more likely to drink in a way that suggested problematic use and 1.3 times more likely to experience alcohol-related harms.1

80% of women in England reported drinking in the last twelve months (compared to 87% of men).2 In Great Britain, between 2005 and 2014, the majority of women surveyed drunk alcohol in the previous week; between 52% and 57%.3 16% of women in England4 drink more than the Chief Medical Officers’ weekly low risk guideline amount (no more than 14 units a week).5 For women, prevalence of this practice is highest amongst those aged 55 to 64, at 24%.6