“To attribute the rise in alcoholism among women solely to marketing would be an oversimplification. The complexities of this issue go deeper”.

The recent reports on alcohol-related deaths in the UK paint a bleak and alarming picture, highlighting a worrying increase in alcohol-related deaths in women.

According to new data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of women who have sadly lost their lives to alcohol has increased by 37 per cent in five years from 2,399 to 3,293 between 2016 and 2021.

The targeted marketing of alcohol towards women is not a new phenomenon, but its intensity and pervasiveness have reached new heights in the digital age. As a perimenopausal woman myself, I’ve observed a substantial presence of alcohol-related content in media, from social media advertisements to white wine podcast reviews. This bombardment implies that alcohol is a viable solution or escape for women facing various life challenges. 

However, to attribute the rise in alcoholism among women solely to marketing would be an oversimplification. The complexities of this issue go deeper.

We cannot continue on this path of blame, shame, and ridicule. The weight of these expectations and societal attitudes is contributing to the alarming statistics we now face. To shift the tide, we must dismantle these harmful narratives and responses. This change needs to start immediately, with a collective effort to support and empower those affected.