A global analysis led by La Trobe University has highlighted the hidden harms to women and children caused by men's alcohol use and calls for urgent gender-responsive and alcohol policy action worldwide and in Australia.

The paper, Harms to Women and Children from Men’s Alcohol Use: An Evidence Review and Directions For Policy, analyses findings including three recent reviews of 78 papers.

Globally, up to one in three women in some countries report living with a heavy-drinking partner and children exposed to men's harmful alcohol use face increased risk of violence, neglect, poor health and reduced life opportunities.

The harms are most severe in low- and middle-income countries and in societies with high levels of gender inequality.

The review, led by Professor Anne-Marie Laslett from La Trobe’s Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR) and published by global non-profit research institute RTI International, shows that men drink more heavily than women and are more likely to engage in behaviours that harm others when they drink.

Women and children are disproportionately impacted, often experiencing physical injury, mental health challenges, financial hardship and disruption to education and family stability.

“Research shows that the consequences of men's alcohol use extend far beyond the individual that drinks,” Professor Laslett said.

“Women and children pay a heavy price, yet policies rarely take their experiences into account. This is a major gap in international public health and social policy.”

International data also reveals wide gender disparities between countries, with prevalence and patterns of alcohol use differing sharply. In some regions, these disparities make harms to women and children especially pronounced.

“Globally there has been poor recognition that others’ drinking, and particularly men’s drinking, contributes to many harms to women and children,” Professor Laslett said.

“Social, cultural and economic policies, as well as alcohol-specific policies, need to change to ensure that they are responding to the harms to women and children highlighted in this review.”

In Australia, the findings are particularly timely given growing national attention to domestic and family violence.

Alcohol’s role in driving partner violence has been recognised in recent government reviews, with calls to strengthen regulation and prevention strategies.

Australia’s Federal Government last year commissioned a rapid review that recommended addressing alcohol’s regulatory environment.

The review emphasises that while proven policies such as raising alcohol taxes, restricting availability, and limiting marketing remain essential, they should be paired with interventions that tackle harmful gender norms and empower women and children.

An intersectoral approach involving health, legal and social services is critical for meaningful change.

Professor Siri Hettige, a researcher from Sri Lanka’s University of Columbo who collaborated on the project, said targeted, community-level interventions that addressed the realities faced by women and children were essential.

“Given the nature of the social context in which the harm to women and children from men’s drinking occurs, interventions to reduce such harms might have to go beyond current alcohol policies,” Professor Hettige said.