Janine Duncan admits that she has always been a heavy drinker. As a member of Generation X, she grew up in an environment where alcohol was normalized, particularly with the mindset that “we can drink as much as men.” Working in real estate, where drinking was part of the culture, and raising two sons, which introduced her to what is often called the “mummy wine culture,” meant her drinking habits went largely unnoticed for many years.
However, things changed when she entered her 40s. She began experiencing symptoms like anxiety, brain fog, poor sleep, and severe night sweats that woke her up multiple times each night. These issues were accompanied by painful menstrual cycles, which only added to her stress. To cope, she turned to alcohol more than ever.
“I was in a high-powered role and under a lot of pressure from work. I’d come home, start cooking dinner, and pour a lot of wine. I would still go to bed at 9:30pm, but I could easily finish a bottle in that time,” she recalls.
What Duncan didn’t realize at the time was that she was going through perimenopause, a phase that many women experience without fully understanding its impact. Her story is not unique.
A 2025 survey conducted by Macquarie University found that many women over 40 in Sydney were using alcohol to manage the anxiety and other symptoms associated with menopause. Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but symptoms can begin earlier during perimenopause.
Professor Rebecca Mitchell, who led the study with the Northern Sydney Local Health District Alcohol and Tobacco Program team, highlights the significance of these findings in the context of broader drinking trends in Australia. While overall alcohol consumption has declined in recent decades, older women are bucking this trend. According to 2022 research, one in five Australian women aged 40 to 65 engage in binge drinking, a significant increase from 2001.
Research on the relationship between menopause and alcohol is still emerging. A 2025 study of nearly 1,000 British women found that some used alcohol to cope with menopausal symptoms, while others avoided it because it worsened their condition. Meanwhile, a longitudinal analysis of over 3,000 American women revealed that excessive drinkers tended to reduce their alcohol intake during menopause, while non-excessive drinkers were more likely to increase their consumption during early perimenopause and postmenopause.
Eventually, Duncan visited her gynaecologist, who helped her connect her worsening symptoms to alcohol use and also put her on hormone replacement therapy. She challenged herself to go 100 days without alcohol and never looked back.
Now over two years sober, she says the experience has been life-changing.
“The improvement in my mental health has been second to none. It’s the best thing I ever did for it. My only regret is I didn’t stop sooner,” she says.
How alcohol affects menopausal symptoms
Alcohol has a negative impact on some of the most common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, according to Dr Erin Morton, an adjunct associate professor at the University of Southern Queensland and founder of Bespoke Clinical Research. Symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, depression, and anxiety are worsened by drinking, even though alcohol may seem to help in the short term, she explains.
In the long term, alcohol can also affect conditions that postmenopausal women are already at greater risk for, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes. Morton notes that alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen, meaning even small amounts can increase cancer risk.
Caroline Gurvich, a clinical neuropsychologist and associate professor at Monash University, adds that age can reduce people’s ability to metabolize alcohol, especially for women. She also points out that this stage of life often comes with significant stress, as many women juggle raising teenagers, caring for elderly parents, and managing demanding careers.
On the other hand, some women may find themselves re-engaging with social activities, which in Australia often involves alcohol.
Knowledge is power
Mitchell emphasizes the importance of awareness and education around menopause. The Macquarie University survey showed that when women received information about how alcohol worsens menopausal symptoms, their intention to reduce alcohol consumption increased significantly.
However, there are currently no clinical guidelines for perimenopause in Australia, which can lead to women not receiving the right treatment or being dismissed altogether. Despite increased awareness in recent years, stigma around menopause and alcohol consumption in women still persists.
Gurvich encourages women struggling with menopausal symptoms to seek help, whether through hormone therapy or psychological support, and to avoid relying on alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Dr. Nicole Lee, CEO of Hello Sunday Morning, suggests that talking to others can be helpful, as many women who drink at risky levels tend to do so alone. The Daybreak App offers free 24/7 peer support for those looking to change their relationship with alcohol.
“There are many lifestyle changes that can be beneficial,” Lee says. “Make sure you have a good sleep routine—talk to your doctor if you’re having sleep problems. You don’t have to suffer through that. Do things that bring you joy, like yoga or meditation, to replace the relaxing effects of alcohol.”
For more support, contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline at 1800 250 015.
