Alcohol and the Menopause: What You Need to Know
Going through the menopause can be challenging. New feelings and symptoms may lead some people to drink more alcohol. But the short-term “relief” alcohol seems to give can actually make many menopause symptoms worse. In Autumn 2025 there was survey of women in Leeds about alcohol and the menopause:
- 40% were unaware of the effects of alcohol on menopause symptoms.
- 63% felt it was extremely important to be aware of heightened alcohol consumption as a risk factor for worsening of menopause symptoms.
- Loss of alcohol tolerance was the most widely reported impact amongst those who reported impacts (41%), followed by weight gain (38.5%), hangovers (31%), and anxiety (31%).
Here are some simple points to help you understand what’s going on and what you can do.
Alcohol can make hot flushes and night sweats worse
Alcohol causes your blood vessels to widen, which can trigger or intensify hot flushes and night sweats. Evidence shows that even one drink – especially wine – can bring on overheating later in the evening.
It can disturb your sleep
Alcohol might help you fall asleep at first, but it stops your body from getting deep, restful sleep. This can leave you waking up tired or waking in the night feeling sweaty or anxious.
Alcohol can affect your mood
During menopause, hormone changes already make mood shifts more common. Alcohol can lower your mood further, raise anxiety levels, and make you feel more emotional the next day.
Your body processes alcohol differently during menopause
As hormones change, your body becomes slower at breaking down alcohol. This means you may feel drunk more quickly or experience stronger hangovers, even if you’re drinking the same amount as before.
Alcohol can worsen long‑term health risks
During and after the menopause, certain health conditions become more common. Drinking alcohol can increase the risks of:
- Weaker bones (osteoporosis)
- Heart problems
- Breast cancer risk, there is evidence that regularly having one drink a day increases the risk of breast cancer by 9%
What is low-risk drinking?
Although there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, current advice for everyone is:
- To drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week
- Spread drinks across the week
- Have a few alcohol‑free days
Tips to feel better and drink less
- Try to have a few alcohol‑free days every week
- Keep track of what you’re drinking
- Switch to alcohol‑free alternatives
- Try to notice how different drinks affect your symptoms
If you drink alcohol and find your menopause symptoms worsening, then stopping drinking or significantly cutting down could help. Speak to your GP, use the NHS Drink Free Days App. If you need more help Forward Leeds can support you to cut down or stop.