Findings

We are very pleased to be able to share the findings of our first piece of work in the SPACES project involving focus groups with mid-life women and stakeholders.

Why we did this study

Over the last few years, our research with mid‑life women has shown that alcohol plays many roles during this stage of life, as a way to relax, cope, socialise, or feel connected. Women also told us they wanted support that feels understanding, non‑judgmental and tailored to the realities of mid‑life. 

This earlier work helped us start developing SPACES, a supportive programme designed to help women reflect on their drinking and, if they choose,make changes. SPACES combines real women’s stories alongside practical tools that recognise the social, emotional and everyday contexts in which drinking happens.

When developing SPACES we wanted to make sure that the content and information would  truly reflect women’s lived experiences, and to understand what kinds of support was achievable, fair, and relevant for women in different circumstances.

What we did
We held eight online focus groups with mid‑life women and professionals who support them. Together, we explored:

• what shapes women’s drinking in mid‑life

• what makes change easier or harder

• how life pressures and inequalities affect people’s choices

• which types of support women find useful or unrealistic

Their insights helped us strengthen and improve the developing SPACES programme.

What we found
Women described five main influences on drinking:

1. Life pressures and limited options: alcohol is easy to get, and alternatives are often harder to access or fit into busy lives.

2. Social expectations: drinking is part of friendship groups, family life and cultural norms.

3. Emotional strain: stress, caring responsibilities, anxiety, and past trauma often fuel drinking.

4. Mental load and health information: competing demands, tiredness, and confusing or conflicting messages make change harder.

5. Identity and stigma: many women hide their struggles or worry about being judged if they talk about alcohol

What helps
Women found the following most helpful:

• Small changes, such as keeping less alcohol at home.

• Support from others, especially relatable stories.

• Enjoyable alcohol‑free activities, not just alcohol free drinks.

• Flexible options, because not all strategies work for everyone.

How this shaped SPACES
Based on what women told us, we developed and SPACES by:

• making stories relatable and varied.

• focusing on emotional and social support.

• offering practical tools without overwhelming people.

• including options rather than one-size-fits-all advice.

• making sure the programme recognises the real pressures many women face.

What happened next
We then developed story content and practical tools informed by these discussions. Mid‑life women helped us test whether the SPACES materials feel useful, supportive and relevant to real‑life situations. We will be sharing the findings from these parts of the project very soon.