* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Monday, June 30, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Susquehanna Raises Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN) Price Target. – Yahoo Finance

    Susquehanna Raises Price Target for Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN)

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    Netflix unveils Dallas immersive venue for fans of hit shows like ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Stranger Things’ – Houston Chronicle

    Step Inside Netflix’s New Dallas Immersive Experience Featuring Hits Like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Stranger Things

    ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’: Civic Players bring ‘Young Frankenstein’ to life – Yahoo

    Civic Players Deliver a Hilarious and Unforgettable Performance of ‘Young Frankenstein

    ‘Wheel of Fortune’: Amputee Wins $60,000 After Breaking Incredible ‘Curse’ – Hastings Tribune

    Wheel of Fortune’ Amputee Breaks Incredible ‘Curse’ to Win $60,000!

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

    Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

    Mirrors in space and underwater curtains: can technology buy us enough time to save the Arctic ice caps? – The Guardian

    Can Technology Like Space Mirrors and Underwater Curtains Buy Us Time to Save the Arctic Ice Caps?

    Naples restaurant owner prepares for hurricane season with new flood technology – Fox4Now.com

    Naples restaurant owner prepares for hurricane season with new flood technology – Fox4Now.com

    Emerging Memory and Storage Technology Market Analysis Report 2025-2034 | AI and HPC Boom Fuels Surging Demand for Fast, Low-Power Memory Devices – Yahoo Finance

    How AI and HPC Are Driving Explosive Growth in Fast, Low-Power Memory Technologies Through 2034

    Ostin Technology (OST): Volatility’s Warning or Contrarian Opportunity? – AInvest

    Ostin Technology (OST): Navigating Market Volatility – Red Flag or Hidden Opportunity?

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Susquehanna Raises Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN) Price Target. – Yahoo Finance

    Susquehanna Raises Price Target for Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN)

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    Netflix unveils Dallas immersive venue for fans of hit shows like ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Stranger Things’ – Houston Chronicle

    Step Inside Netflix’s New Dallas Immersive Experience Featuring Hits Like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Stranger Things

    ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’: Civic Players bring ‘Young Frankenstein’ to life – Yahoo

    Civic Players Deliver a Hilarious and Unforgettable Performance of ‘Young Frankenstein

    ‘Wheel of Fortune’: Amputee Wins $60,000 After Breaking Incredible ‘Curse’ – Hastings Tribune

    Wheel of Fortune’ Amputee Breaks Incredible ‘Curse’ to Win $60,000!

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

    Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

    Mirrors in space and underwater curtains: can technology buy us enough time to save the Arctic ice caps? – The Guardian

    Can Technology Like Space Mirrors and Underwater Curtains Buy Us Time to Save the Arctic Ice Caps?

    Naples restaurant owner prepares for hurricane season with new flood technology – Fox4Now.com

    Naples restaurant owner prepares for hurricane season with new flood technology – Fox4Now.com

    Emerging Memory and Storage Technology Market Analysis Report 2025-2034 | AI and HPC Boom Fuels Surging Demand for Fast, Low-Power Memory Devices – Yahoo Finance

    How AI and HPC Are Driving Explosive Growth in Fast, Low-Power Memory Technologies Through 2034

    Ostin Technology (OST): Volatility’s Warning or Contrarian Opportunity? – AInvest

    Ostin Technology (OST): Navigating Market Volatility – Red Flag or Hidden Opportunity?

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

Shifting the Narrative: Women’s Wellness Beyond Wine O’Clock

October 11, 2023
in Health
Shifting the Narrative: Women’s Wellness Beyond Wine O’Clock
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Cheers, it’s finally wine o’clock, thinks single mum Katarina as she tucks her son into bed with his favourite story, then reaches for the prosecco bottle to get her through the lonely night ahead. During the global pandemic, working mum Dianne joked with her girlfriends about taking up daytime drinking to help her cope with home schooling her tribe of three. These women are not alone.

Many women, particularly those who are middle-aged, are pouring glasses of wine to signal the end of the workday. A ritual, they say, that helps them to relax and unwind.

There’s no doubt the wine market is skewed to the feminine palate — blokes will pour a beer while slapping each other on the back and cheering on their favourite footy team. Wine for women, on the other hand, is often about a get-together with the girls or a reward after a tough day of juggling their responsibilities. For some, it’s a soothing balm for sadness.

The mum wine culture has an underlying premise that a glass or two of wine will help to solve problems, ease burdens and numb feelings of failure when a woman may have dropped one of the many balls she’d been juggling that day.

A brew or few?

Across the board, both Aussie men and women love to sip, savour and sometimes scull their favourite brew. Drinking in moderation is one thing, but numbers show that one in four (25.8 per cent or five million people) aged 18 years and over exceed the recommended consumption guidelines.
James Ising, psychologist and drug and alcohol worker, says there’s no doubt Australia has an ingrained drinking culture, which can be to our collective detriment.

“I tell my clients it’s the most easily socially acceptable, affordable and most dangerous drug in our society,” he says.

Alcoholic beverages contain ethyl alcohol, which is formulated when yeast ferments the sugars in fruits, vegetables and grains. It works as a nervous system depressant, and effects mood and self-control. It relaxes, it lowers inhibitions and it can be highly addictive.

In the past, the spotlight was firmly on the younger generation and their drinking habits, but not so much anymore. Professor Kate Conigrave, senior staff specialist and addiction medicine specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, says young people are less likely to be drinkers than they were 10 years ago, with many swapping out alcoholic drinks for low-or no-alcohol versions.

But that’s not the case for everybody.

“Men also have reduced the amount of alcohol they are consuming; what is of growing concern is the number of women drinking to excess — particularly those who are middle-aged,” says Conigrave.

In fact, one study in the Drug and Alcohol Review journal shows about 21 per cent of women between 45 and 60 are now consuming alcohol at binge-drinking levels.

Drink up, it’s good for you

Women and men drink for a host of reasons. Socially they feel buoyed by the tongue-loosening buzz that alcohol produces. Alcohol can boost your confidence if you are shy, and some say it can also make you more creative, as it loosens inhibitions and gets those creative juices flowing.
Alcohol, particularly red wine, in some studies has been linked to longevity. It contains antioxidants called polyphenols, that may benefit blood vessels in the heart and prevent blood clots.

According to Harvard Health, over 100 studies on alcohol show a 25 to 40 per cent reduction in risk for light or moderate drinkers of heart attack, clot-caused stroke, peripheral vascular disease and death from all cardiovascular causes.

But there’s also a gigantic beer-swilling elephant in the room.

Moderation is key. With the growing burden of alcohol issues across the globe, more authorities are tweaking the numbers to reflect what the definition of moderate actually means.

New Australian guidelines were put into effect in December 2020. These are that healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day. The less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol. Children under 18 and pregnant or breastfeeding women shouldn’t drink at all.

Conigrave, who was the chair of the Drinking Guidelines Committee, says that around the globe, with new evidence about health risks, many countries are lowering their guidelines again. “For example, Canadian drinking guidelines now recommend a max of two drinks a week,” she says.

While researchers have shown many middle-aged women are drinking to levels that place them at risk of harm, their reasons for doing so differ. Dr Belinda Lunnay, postdoctoral researcher at Torrens University with Professor Paul Ward, has completed studies with women aged 45 to 64, exploring social class and the links to why they drink alcohol.

“More privileged women had a relationship with alcohol that was for more positive reasons: drinking alcohol was a form of social connection, a celebration of success — you’ve kept all those balls in the air, being a mum, caring for parents and working, so you deserve that glass of wine,” she says.

Her recent work shows this group of women were open to reducing alcohol intake; they experienced post-drinking regret since establishing heavy drinking patterns in order to get through pandemic restrictions.

While this group perceived alcohol almost as a form of reward, Lunnay says low-income women or women living in poverty drink alcohol for different reasons. “They lead difficult lives — they drink as self-care, not to celebrate,” she notes.

Middle-aged women are open to reassessing their relationship with alcohol, including the sober-curious wellness movement, and Lunnay worries those women living on the breadline will get left behind. “If we task them with sticking to the alcohol guidelines, their hard lives make it feel impossible to do so,” she notes. “They feel they have no substitute; alcohol is the only way to reduce stress if they have a bill they can’t pay, so they have a drink.”

At the very heart of the matter lies a gap between what women need and the support they receive. And multinational booze companies that are raking in billions for their products aren’t making things any easier.

The power of marketing

There’s no doubt that successful media advertising and the drinking mindset are irrevocably linked. Many women who want to give up alcohol, or at least reduce it, are finding it tough. Clever marketing entices with low-calorie versions of your favourite alcoholic drink. Not only does advertising play to the feminine psyche with glittery or pink wine bottle labels, some are designed to celebrate women juggling it all. Lunnay says her colleague analysed wine bottle labels, showing just how targeted marketing ploys can be towards women. “One wine label was a woman reaching out with multiple arms, a direct target to women and multitasking,” she says. “This kind of social messaging makes it hard for women to think that their alcohol consumption is something that should be changed.”

Socially, the female drinking culture is saturated with gatherings that are all about drinking wine. Wine and cheese nights with the girls, “Paint and Sip” gatherings, hair appointments where sparkling wine is on offer and girls’ movie nights where goody bags and glasses of wine are the order of the day.

Social media posts still proliferate, such as “Keep calm and keep drinking” and “It’s mummy wine time”. Lunnay says behind the bravado of these posts is a sobering message. “Women don’t want to be drinking as much — but feel there are few alternative forms of stress relief, and many hide just how much they do drink,” she says.

Who’s the boss?

Alcohol can impact on your body long-term. The harsh reality is women have a marked higher susceptibility to alcohol-related health issues that can include immune and infectious diseases, as well as cancer and heart issues.

And here’s the chaser. Women can develop alcohol-related medical problems sooner and at lower levels of consumption compared to men.
Conigrave explains that this is because women have lower muscle mass and lower lean body weight. “Alcohol is spread across a smaller volume, so it’s at a higher concentration,” she explains. “Women also break down alcohol a little bit less efficiently in our stomach as it passes through.”

New research also shows a clearly increased risk for breast cancer for women who drink. Conigrave says any regular drinking increases your risk.
If you feel your drinking is controlling you rather than the other way around, try asking yourself the following: do you spend time during your day, thinking about wine o’clock and when you can pour a glass? Do you need to drink more to get the same buzz that you have in the past?

Ising says it’s important to be honest with yourself. “If you haven’t been able to stop when you’ve started to drink, or missed events because of drinking, or friends are concerned about your drinking, it probably means you have an issue with alcohol,” he says.

If you are concerned about your drinking, if alcohol is causing you or others distress and harm, your first port of call could be your GP. Acknowledging that there is an issue is a big step, but it’s also an opportunity to take control.

April Long, CEO of SMART Recovery Australia, says it’s unfortunate, but many women aren’t reaching out when they need help and support. “The biggest thing we find with people seeking help is the stigma; they don’t want to be judged,” she says.

Take a dive in your gene pool

How much you are likely to drink tends to be influenced by environmental and genetic factors. If someone in your family has an alcohol dependency issue, there’s an increased risk that another family member could also develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

Long says we also can’t dispute the impact of the culture of family and community environment. “Growing up in an environment that is awash with alcohol has an influence on you and your choices.

Intergenerational drinking has a huge impact,” she says.

If you are at risk, it’s important to understand the impacts and to take steps to stay within guidelines.

Breaking the wine o’clock habit

For many, popping the cork on a wine bottle or twisting the cap off a cold brew has become a ritual. While Fran prepared dinner, she’d crack open a bottle of wine and sip as she sliced up vegetables, then pour another glass while she cooked. Over dinner she’d share a glass with her partner. Fran says it’s a habit that developed unconsciously.

Habitual drinking will take conscious thought and discipline to break. It’s important for your physical and emotional health and wellbeing to do what you can to control your alcohol intake to safe levels. Long says like any unhealthy habit, you need to acknowledge it. “Own that you have an urge or craving to drink, then press pause before you act on it,” she says. “Come up with a plan — choose options that distract you. It’s all about practical substitutes instead of reaching for that glass of wine.”

Look for your triggers and make conscious choices to find alternative ways to relax and unwind or reward yourself at the end of a long day. Connecting with nature is one. Walking or more vigorous exercise is great for your mind, body and spirit. Turn off your phone. Engage with your kids. Take them for a walk to the park before dinner. Simple ideas like having a relaxing bath, phoning a friend or doing some baking can also take your mind off pouring that drink.

You’ve got this

It’s crunch time for middle-aged women. Drinking too much will impact on our health and potentially shorten our lives.

The good news, according to Lunnay, is the tide could soon be turning. “I get the feeling women are channelling towards a change in direction, and are becoming a bit more reflective about wine o’clock,” she says.

With so much at stake, it’s a change that needs to happen. Lunnay says by focusing on wellness we can change the perspective on reducing drinking. “Every drink you refrain from you are doing something positive for your health — it switches the narrative away from giving up alcohol toward one where women feel empowered to gain wellness.”

Article Featured in WellBeing 206

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Wellbeing – https://www.wellbeing.com.au/body/shifting-the-narrative-womens-wellness-beyond-wine-oclock.html

Tags: healthNarrativeshifting
Previous Post

The Role of Good-Quality Plant Proteins for Health & Sustainability

Next Post

Berry Bliss: A Guide to Growing Your Own Delicious Berries

New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

June 30, 2025
Atlanta Dream Dealt Concerning Loss During Liberty Game – Yahoo Sports

Atlanta Dream Faces Crushing Defeat in Thrilling Liberty Clash

June 30, 2025
More than 1,800 National Science Foundation workers abruptly kicked out of agency headquarters – Space

Over 1,800 National Science Foundation Employees Suddenly Evicted from Agency Headquarters

June 30, 2025
Scientists Retrace 30,000-Year-Old Sea Voyage, in a Hollowed-Out Log – The New York Times

Scientists Successfully Recreate Epic 30,000-Year-Old Sea Voyage in a Hollowed-Out Log

June 30, 2025
Tom Brady Ditches Sneakers Lifestyle For Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez’s Wedding – Yahoo

Tom Brady Swaps Sneakers Lifestyle for Glamorous Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Wedding Celebration

June 30, 2025
Chivu Confirms France Star Fit For Inter Milan Vs Fluminense Club World Cup Clash – Yahoo Sports

Chivu Confirms France Star Ready for Inter Milan’s Club World Cup Showdown Against Fluminense

June 30, 2025
Trump’s tariffs damage the US economy more if they drive investors away from American assets – Peterson Institute for International Economics

How Trump’s Tariffs Could Backfire by Driving Investors Away from American Assets

June 30, 2025
Surprising New Study Links Daytime Napping to Hidden Health Risks – Prevention

Surprising New Research Uncovers Hidden Health Risks of Daytime Napping

June 30, 2025
The 1975’s Matty Healy Says ‘We Don’t Need More Politics’ at Glastonbury – Variety

The 1975’s Matty Healy Declares “We Don’t Need More Politics” at Glastonbury

June 30, 2025
Mirrors in space and underwater curtains: can technology buy us enough time to save the Arctic ice caps? – The Guardian

Can Technology Like Space Mirrors and Underwater Curtains Buy Us Time to Save the Arctic Ice Caps?

June 29, 2025

Categories

Archives

June 2025
MTWTFSS
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30 
« May    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (700)
  • Economy (724)
  • Entertainment (21,613)
  • General (15,630)
  • Health (9,763)
  • Lifestyle (729)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (725)
  • Politics (730)
  • Science (15,941)
  • Sports (21,221)
  • Technology (15,709)
  • World (704)

Recent News

New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

June 30, 2025
Atlanta Dream Dealt Concerning Loss During Liberty Game – Yahoo Sports

Atlanta Dream Faces Crushing Defeat in Thrilling Liberty Clash

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version