‘Oh well, wine o’clock’: what midlife women say about drinking and why it’s hard to stop

New research finds women's relationship with alcohol can differ depending on their social class - for some it's a social celebration, for others relief from loneliness and stress

Many of us enjoy a drink at the end of a stressful day. But for some, this is less of a discretionary treat and more of a nightly must-have.

While alcohol reduction campaigns ask us to check our relationship with alcohol, emphasising the role it can play in causing violence and disease, our research has found many Australian women view alcohol in a different way. Many don't see alcohol as only a bad thing and have complex reasons for their relationships with alcohol.

[I drink] just on my own; doesn't bother me. I don't need to be sociable and I don't necessarily drink when I'm out [...] alcohol has always played a fairly large role.