Women Deserve to Know the Truth About Alcohol
I shook my head in complete astonishment as my guest speaker shared fact after fact about women and alcohol.
Despite having been alcohol-free for over five years — and deeply immersed in the sober living space — I was still taken aback by the statistics, research, and insights I had never encountered before.
As we wrapped up the interview, I looked at Ann Dowsett-Johnson — author, medical journalist, and speaker — and asked:
“But why don’t women know all of this?
How can we live in a world that isn’t shouting this from the rooftops, but instead promotes alcohol as the answer to all our problems?
Don’t women deserve the truth?”
That moment stopped me in my tracks. Because she’s right — women deserve to know.
My Wake-Up Call About Alcohol and Women’s Health
When I ended what I described as a dysfunctional relationship with alcohol in 2019, I became obsessed with understanding exactly how my beloved wine had impacted my health.
I started asking questions I had never thought to ask before.
Why did I feel intense anxiety the day after drinking — hiding at the school gate under my cap, praying no one would start a conversation?
Why did I always wake at 3am, tossing and turning after just a couple of glasses with dinner?
And why, in 2018, did my naturopath tell me:
“Sarah, your estrogen is so high it’s off the chart — you need to take a break from booze,”
without explaining the link between alcohol, estrogen dominance, liver detox pathways, and the increased risk of breast cancer?
It took a few more years of reading, researching, and retraining before I finally connected the dots.
The Shocking Health Risks Women Face
Even after becoming a Grey Area Drinking Coach and supporting thousands of women through my programs, I’m still learning new information about how alcohol affects women’s bodies.
Here’s what I’ve discovered — and what every woman deserves to know:
· Women and men are both vulnerable to alcohol-related strokes — but it happens four times faster in women.
· Alcohol-related heart disease progresses faster in women.
· Women become addicted to alcohol sooner than men.
And when it comes to breast cancer, the data is sobering:
📊An analysis of 20 studies found that alcohol increases the risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer by 35% and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer by 28%.
Yet, a Melbourne university study revealed that 80% of Australian women are unaware of the link between alcohol and breast cancer.
Why Aren’t We Talking About This?
The simple truth is this: women are more vulnerable to alcohol’s effects, and the health risks are greater.
But instead of warnings, we are bombarded with pink drinks, prosecco parties, bottomless brunches, and even breast cancer fundraisers sponsored by alcohol brands.
The irony is staggering.
This is especially concerning when research shows that the only demographic where alcohol consumption is rising is midlife women — the very group most at risk for alcohol-related health issues.
Women Deserve Informed Choices
To be clear, I’m not advocating for prohibition — and I don’t judge women who drink.
Many of my closest friends still do.
My mission is simply to ensure that women have the full picture so they can make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.
We are at a turning point in how women’s health is being understood. There’s growing awareness of menopause, hormonal health, and the fact that women are not just small men.
As the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) points out, before 1993, women were rarely included in clinical trials. Even today, there are major gaps in understanding how alcohol and other substances affect women differently.
The Power and Influence of Big Alcohol
But make no mistake — we are up against a powerful force.
Big Alcohol has identified women as one of its most profitable markets and invests billions in advertising that tells us we “deserve” a drink after a long day, that wine is self-care, and that fun and connection come from a bottle.
We’re being sold an illusion — and it’s time to wake up.
Through my book Beyond Booze and my coaching programs, I’ve seen firsthand the transformation that happens when women remove alcohol and reconnect with themselves.
But we need more than individual action. We need:
· More education and awareness about alcohol’s effects on women.
· Honest, transparent labelling on alcoholic drinks.
· Better representation of women’s health in medical research.
Let’s Make Sure Women Know the Full Story
Every woman has the right to make her own choices.
But those choices should be based on truth, not marketing.
It’s time to stop glamorising alcohol as the reward for surviving the week and start having honest conversations about what it’s really doing to our bodies, minds, and futures.
Because women deserve to know the truth about alcohol.
Ready to Explore Life Beyond Alcohol?
If you’re starting to feel curious about your own drinking — or wondering what life could look like without alcohol — I’ve created something to help you start.
✨ Download my free guide:
“100 Things To Do Instead of Drink” — packed with inspiration, mindset shifts, and practical ideas to help you take a break and feel amazing.
👉Get your free guide here and start building a life that doesn’t need numbing.
You deserve to wake up proud — every single day.