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HomeHealth PromotionDrink Less. Live More.
Drink Less. Live More.
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Do you want to get more out of life by drinking less alcohol? You are not alone! 

Alcohol plays a major part in our lives; from a daily drink to unwind, to drinking with friends and even at children's parties. However, many people have a desire to reduce their drinking so they can be happier, healthier and get more out of life. 

We encourage you to 'Drink Less. Live More' and embrace the power to change your life for the better. 


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​​Tools - Get a Little Help

If you need a little help to get started to drink less and live more, give some of these tools, services and guides a go: 

  • Call the Get Healthy Service
    Get Healthy Service

    The Get Healthy Information & Coaching Service is a FREE and confidential phone-based service from NSW Health for adults. Participants receive their own qualified health coach who can help you drink less.

    Visit: www.gethealthynsw.com.au External Link

  • Visit the Australian Guidelines
    Australian Guidelines

    The Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks From Drinking Alcohol state that healthy women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. See the Guidelines for more information.

    Visit: www.nhmrc.gov.au/health-advice/alcohol External Link

  • Visit the Drinks Meter App
    Drinks Meter App

    This is a user-friendly app for phone or tablet that provides confidential, personalised feedback about your alcohol use to reduce health related risks from alcohol.

    Visit:

​​​​If you or someone you know needs more help and support with their drinking, contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) 24/7 support line on 1800 250 015 or visit www.yourroom.health.nsw.nsw.gov.au/getting-helpalternate text 47 See our Programs and and Support ​section below for a range of other services that can provide a greater level of support with alcohol.​

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​Drink Less. Live More. (Men)

The Drink Less. Live More. - men campaign has four main messages as shown below. Feel free to share our social media tiles to friends, networks and community groups.​​
  • Woman holding the hands of two girl children and laughing
    One less drink, more time together

    Drinking less can mean more time to spend with family and friends. We encourage you to cherish those quality moments with those in your life who are important to you.

  • Social Media Tiles:
  • One Less Drink, More Time Together #1
  • Woman holding the hands of two girl children and laughing
    One less drink, more time together

    Drinking less can mean more time to spend with family and friends. We encourage you to cherish those quality moments with those in your life who are important to you.

  • Social Media Tiles:
  • One Less Drink, More Time Together #1

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​Drink Less. Live More. (Women)

The Drink Less. Live More. - women campaign has three main messages as shown below. Feel free share our social media tiles and other resources in your local community.
  • Woman holding the hands of two girl children and laughing
    One less drink, more time together

    Drinking less can mean more time to spend with family and friends. We encourage you to cherish those quality moments with those in your life who are important to you.

  • Social Media Tiles:
  • One Less Drink, More Time Together #1

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​Fact Sheets

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​Get in touch

If you want to ask a question or share your thoughts about the campaign, simply email:
[email protected]​


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people in front of laptop
 

​MORE PR​OGRAMS AND SUPPORT

Interested in other initiatives helping people to drink less?

Are you after a greater level of support with alcohol?​​​

 Discover other initiatives and more support here...


Check out other initiatives helping people to drink less

  • ​Ripple: Ripple is a project supporting women aged 40-65 in the ACT to reduce the amount of alcohol they drink.
    Visit www.fare.org.au/ripple/ External Link
  • Pregnant Pause: Pregnant Pause is creating a community of support for mums-to-be to have alcohol-free pregnancies. Visit: www.pregnantpause.com.au External Link
  • NOFASD Australia: As the peak national body, NOFASD promotes the prevention, diagnosis, early intervention and management of FASD. NOFASD operates the FASD helpline providing support and resources to individuals, families, pregnant women and service providers across Australia. Phone: 1800 860 613 Visit: www.nofasd.org.au External Link
  • Alcohol. Think Again: The Alcohol.Think Again education campaign is part of a comprehensive approach that aims to reduce the level of alcohol-related harm and ill-health in Western Australia. The campaign uses a mass reach social marketing strategy targeting the community. Visit www.alcoholthinkagain.com.au External Link 

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Need a greater level of support with alcohol? The following services are available:

 

  • Hello Sunday Morning: A community of people who support each other as they face similar challenges in changing their relationship with alcohol through the Daybreak app. One-on-one counselling with professional health coaches is available, and all registration costs are subsidised by the Australian Government. 
    Phone: 1300 403 196  Visit: www.hellosundaymorning.org External Link
  • Alcohol and Drug Foundation: Information and referral services. Phone: 1300 85 85 84 Visit: www.ad​f.org.au External Link
  • Family Drug Support: Support for people who are worried about the alcohol and drug use of their family and loved ones.  Phone: 1300 368 186 Visit: www.fds.org.au External Link
  • Smart Recovery Australia: Empowers people to help themselves and each other manage addictive behaviours for the improvement of the health and social wellbeing of the community. Visit: www.smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au External Link
  • Alcoholics Anonymous Australia: AA is an informal society of more than 2 million recovering alcoholics to provide each other strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Visit: www.aa.org.au External Link
  • Turning Point: Turning Point provides 24/7 online counselling to people adversely affected by alcohol, other drugs and gambling. Visit: www.turningpoint.org.au External Link
  • Al-Anon Family Groups: Al-Anon helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with someone whose drinking is a problem. Visit: www.al-anon.org.au External Link
  • Domestic violence: 24/7 Sexual assault and domestic violence counselling service. Phone: 1800 737 732 Visit: www.1800respect.org.au External Link
  • Alcohol Guidelines: The NHMRC has guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. The guidelines provide health professionals, policy makers and the Australian community with evidence-based advice on the health effects of drinking alcohol. They also help people make informed decisions about how much alcohol they drink, if any. Visit: www.nhmrc.gov.au/health-advice/alcohol External Link


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 ‭(Hidden)‬ Share your story
​Have you taken the challenge to drink less? What prompted you to take action? What worked for you? What tips would you give other women? How has it changed your life for the better?

 

Share your story of how you have been able to drink less and get more out of life, by emailing us at [email protected]  

 

(When submitting your story, NSLHD will use it on its website or in social media to encourage other women to drink less. Names and personal details will be removed unless we contact you for permission. Stories may be edited to improve flow or to highlight a message/quote).

 ‭(Hidden)‬ Background and research

​A​ims:

  • Identify the reasons women aged 35-59 years who reside on the Northern Beaches of Sydney are drinking alcohol
  • Explore drinking behaviours that increase the risk of harm
  • Implement strategies to reduce alcohol consumption within this group.

 

Literature review

Key findings:

  • 2017-18 data showed NSLHD having the highest rate of alcohol-attributable hospitalisations for women in NSW, 35% higher than the NSW average.
  • The Northern Beaches of NSLHD also stands out within the data, with an alcohol-attributable hospitalisation rate 40% higher than the NSW average in 2016-18.
  • Females aged 50-59 were the most likely to exceed lifetime risk drinking (drink 2 or more standard drinks per day) compared to all other female groups.
  • Limited research and evidence on why women aged 35-59 drink alcohol at quantities that increase the risk of harm.

 

Chevron PDF icon Literature review

 

Qualitative focus groups

Six semi-structured focus groups were conducted in 2019 with a total of 47 women aged 35-59yrs living on the Northern Beaches.

 

Themes identified for further investigation included:

  • Short term release and escape turned habit
  • “Go on Have another one": Lived experience of judgement and pressure to fit in
  • “It brings us together" Creating and strengthening social connections
  • “You don't feel like it's going to kill you right now"

 

Chevron PDF icon Focus group design summary

Chevron PDF icon Focus group finding summary

 

Quantitative online survey

An online survey based around the focus group themes was conducted. A total of 583 women completed the survey with the following key results:

  • 97 % drank alcohol
  • 56% believe there is an issue of problematic drinking in this age group on the Northern Beaches
  • 60% prefer drinking wine
  • 81% reported all gatherings they attend had alcohol present
  • 60% reported all child-oriented gatherings they attended had alcohol present
  • 53% reported alcohol had no effect on their current or past relationships

 

Chevron PDF icon Survey design summary

Chevron PDF icon Survey key findings summary​​