Healthwatch North Yorkshire is calling on women aged 40 to 60 to speak up about their experiences with alcohol – in a new survey designed to put their voices at the heart of local health services and improve support.
National data shows midlife women are more likely to drink regularly than younger women. In North Yorkshire, hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions among women aged 45 to 64 are already higher than the national average. Yet this group is often overlooked in conversations about alcohol and health
Ashley Green, Chief Executive of Healthwatch North Yorkshire, said:
Midlife brings unique health changes and pressures, and yet women’s voices in this age group are often missing from the alcohol conversation. Healthwatch want to change that.
The “Let’s talk about alcohol” survey is quick (10–15 minutes), anonymous, and open to any woman aged 40 to 60 in North Yorkshire who has had a drink in the past two years. Every response will help paint a clearer picture of why women drink, how it affects their health and wellbeing, and whether current support really works for them.
Why this matters
Alcohol can play many roles – from relaxation to coping with stress – but women’s experiences in midlife aren’t always captured in the design of health services. Healthwatch North Yorkshire will use the findings to create evidence-based recommendations for the NHS, North Yorkshire Council, and community organisations to support them.
Ashley added:
This is not about judging drinking habits – it’s about listening without stigma, so that services are shaped around real lives and real needs.
What Healthwatch has heard so far
Whilst the survey is still live, some interesting statistics have emerged:
- Many women drink to unwind from daily stress (work, family, finances, caregiving) or to enjoy social occasions.
- Nearly 70% say they have tried to cut down or stop drinking, including those who have given up completely.
- 66% say they now drink less or have stopped in midlife due to concerns about physical or mental health.
Who is Healthwatch
Healthwatch North Yorkshire is the independent champion for people who use health and care services. It works to make care better by listening to people’s experiences, producing reports and recommendations that influence decision-makers, and helping people find the right information to make confident choices about their health – or someone they support or care for.
Take part today
Complete the survey online: Healthwatch North Yorkshire – Let’s Talk About Alcohol
Request a paper copy, large print, or complete by phone: 01423 788 128 or email: Hello@hwny.co.uk
Feedback is anonymous – you don’t need to leave your name. And what you tell Healthwatch won’t affect your care.
Healthwatch will then use what people tell them (in confidence) to share the findings and make some recommendations with alcohol services and the local NHS to help them improve support. Healthwatch can do this, as it is part of the Health and Social Care Act and has the legal power to collect feedback and ask for a response about what is being done to make things better.
The closing date is 5 pm on Friday 31 October 2025
Learn more – and take the survey at https://www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk/news/2025-09-15/lets-talk-about-alcohol-midlife-womens-health-north-yorkshire
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