A new international study led by La Trobe University has found that when men drink heavily, the damage often falls hardest on women and children.
This research is urging governments, including Australia’s, to take serious action to protect families from these gender-based harms.
The study is called “Harms to Women and Children from Men’s Alcohol Use: An Evidence Review and Directions for Policy.” It brings together data from 78 studies around the world and was published by the global nonprofit research group RTI International.
The main message is clear: men’s drinking doesn’t just hurt themselves—it affects everyone around them, especially their partners and children.
In some countries, up to one in three women live with a partner who drinks heavily. In such homes, children are more likely to suffer from neglect, violence, poor health, and fewer chances for a better future. These problems are especially serious in low- and middle-income countries where gender inequality is still a big issue.
The study was led by Professor Anne-Marie Laslett from La Trobe’s Centre for Alcohol Policy Research. Her team found that men generally drink more than women and are more likely to harm others while drinking. Women and children often suffer the results—whether it’s physical abuse, emotional pain, financial problems, or disrupted family life and education.
Professor Laslett explained that the impact of men’s drinking goes far beyond just the man who drinks. Women and children often pay the price, yet most policies don’t consider their experiences. She believes this is a major gap in how governments and health services deal with alcohol-related issues.
The study also looked at how drinking habits differ from country to country. In places where men drink much more than women, the harm to families is even worse. But very few countries have policies that address this specific problem.
Professor Laslett says we need to make big changes—not just in alcohol laws, but also in social and cultural policies. That means changing how we view gender roles, supporting women and children, and building stronger support systems across health, legal, and community services.
In Australia, this report comes at an important time. More people are becoming aware of the link between alcohol and domestic violence. Recent government reviews have pointed out that alcohol plays a big role in partner violence, and there have been calls to better control alcohol through stronger rules.
The researchers say that raising taxes on alcohol, limiting how and where it’s sold, and cutting back on alcohol ads are all important steps. But these actions need to go hand-in-hand with efforts to challenge harmful ideas about gender and give women and children more power to speak out and get help.
Professor Siri Hettige from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, who helped with the study, stressed that community-based solutions are key.
He said that in many places, alcohol harm happens in a larger social context, so solutions need to go beyond just changing drinking laws. They need to reach people where they live and take into account the real struggles women and children face every day.
This study shines a light on an issue that is often ignored. It shows that to truly reduce the harm caused by alcohol, we must also protect those most affected by it—women and children.
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The study is published in RTI International.
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