A Global Call to Address the Hidden Harms of Men’s Alcohol Use on Women and Children
A comprehensive global analysis spearheaded by La Trobe University’s Centre for Alcohol Policy Research has unveiled a critical, yet often overlooked, public health crisis: the multifaceted harms experienced by women and children as a direct consequence of men’s heavy alcohol consumption. Published by RTI International, this landmark evidence review synthesizes data from 78 recent studies to illuminate the far-reaching social, physical, and psychological damage inflicted disproportionately on vulnerable populations, particularly within socioeconomically disadvantaged and gender-unequal settings worldwide.
Alcohol consumption patterns among men diverge sharply from those of women, with men not only drinking more heavily but also engaging in behavior that significantly elevates risks for domestic violence, neglect, and emotional trauma. These findings underscore the gendered nature of alcohol-related harm, emphasizing that the effects extend well beyond the individual drinker to disrupt family structures, impeding the health and wellbeing of women and children who often bear the brunt of such damage. Critically, this extensive review points to the necessity for gender-responsive policy frameworks that explicitly address these intertwined issues at multiple societal levels.
Globally, up to one-third of women in certain regions are estimated to live with partners who engage in hazardous drinking. This figure translates into millions of children exposed daily to environments where violence, financial instability, and neglect are routine consequences. The compounded exposure to trauma not only jeopardizes immediate safety but also undermines long-term developmental outcomes for these children, creating cycles of disadvantage and compromised opportunity that perpetuate across generations. This troubling reality spotlights the urgent need for interventions that transcend traditional alcohol control measures.
The geographic and cultural contours of these harms are uneven. Low- and middle-income countries with entrenched gender disparities experience the harshest impacts. Societal norms that condone or fail to challenge male dominance and the normalization of heavy drinking exacerbate women’s vulnerability and often shelter harmful behaviors from public scrutiny or legal consequence. The review’s international scope captures these complexities, illustrating how socio-cultural context shapes both drinking behaviors and the efficacy of conventional alcohol regulation.
Professor Anne-Marie Laslett, lead author of the review, articulates a compelling call to action: “The consequences of men’s alcohol use are not confined to the individual but ripple through families and communities, disproportionately afflicting women and children. Yet, policy responses have scarcely recognized this significant dimension.” She critiques current public health frameworks for neglecting to integrate the lived experiences of these vulnerable groups, a gap that impedes the development of tailored and impactful strategies across global settings.
A critical insight from the review is the under-recognized contribution of secondary drinking harms—where the deleterious effects stem from someone else’s alcohol use—to a wide spectrum of social problems including intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, and economic instability within families. This concept challenges the prevailing paradigms that focus narrowly on individual alcohol consumption and its direct health outcomes, advocating instead for integrated approaches that consider relational and gendered dynamics in alcohol-related harm reduction.
In Australia, this evidence arrives as the nation confronts rising awareness around domestic and family violence, with alcohol acknowledged as a significant driver. Recent governmental reviews have underscored the urgency of regulatory reforms focused on alcohol availability, taxation, and marketing controls. However, the La Trobe-led analysis argues that while such measures are necessary, they are insufficient on their own. Complementary interventions must engage with harmful gender norms, empower women and children, and foster social environments resistant to violence and neglect.
Professor Siri Hettige from the University of Colombo, a collaborator on the project, echoes this sentiment by emphasizing the imperative for community-level interventions that resonate with local sociocultural realities. “Effective policy must transcend typical alcohol control strategies and incorporate a nuanced understanding of the social contexts that sustain harm,” she remarks. This perspective calls for cross-sector collaboration among health, legal, and social services to orchestrate a coordinated response aimed at mitigating harm and facilitating recovery.
The review also highlights the potential of intersectoral approaches targeting structural determinants of harm such as poverty, education access, and gender inequality. Such multifaceted solutions, combined with traditional alcohol policy reforms, could produce significant reductions in harm while advancing broader goals of equity and social justice. This integrated vision reflects a paradigm shift towards viewing alcohol-related harm not merely as a matter of individual choice but as embedded within broader societal and gendered systems.
Moreover, the analysis draws attention to the complex interplay between social, economic, and cultural factors that shape both alcohol consumption patterns and the resultant harm to women and children. For example, in regions with high gender inequality, entrenched patriarchal norms allow excessive male alcohol use to flourish unchecked, while simultaneously marginalizing the voices and protections for women and children. This intersectionality challenges policymakers to devise culturally sensitive, context-specific strategies that dismantle these reinforcing cycles of harm.
In sum, this groundbreaking review offers a robust evidence base calling for urgent reform in alcohol and social policies at both national and international levels. It highlights the necessity of recognizing men’s alcohol use as not solely an individual health issue but a systemic social risk factor disproportionately damaging the lives of women and children. Addressing this hidden epidemic requires bold, gender-responsive policies integrated with comprehensive public health and social justice initiatives.
In light of these findings, global health advocates and policymakers are urged to recalibrate alcohol-related harm prevention frameworks to incorporate gendered analyses and prioritize the wellbeing of women and children exposed to the fallout of men’s drinking. Only through such dedicated and informed interventions can societies hope to alleviate this substantial, yet underappreciated, burden and promote safer, healthier futures for all.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Harms to Women and Children from Men’s Alcohol Use: An Evidence Review and Directions for Policy
News Publication Date: 30-Sep-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.3768/rtipress.2025.op.0098.2509
References: DOI: 10.3768/rtipress.2025.op.0098.2509
Keywords: Substance abuse
