Ready to contemplate? Midlife adults and their relationship with alcohol

Findings of qualitative research to understand how to ‘connect’ with midlife adult contemplators, in order to motivate them to take action to moderate their drinking.

The research by Research New Zealand found that contemplation in relation to moderating drinking is neither strong nor consistent - at best, it can be described as ‘moments of contemplation’. As these moments of contemplation are tenuous and the audience’s relationship with alcohol long-term and entrenched, it is likely to be challenging to shift their behaviour.

Two key triggers for moments of contemplation were found to be: ‘niggles’ in relation to the impacts of drinking on their health; and negative perceptions of their drunken behaviour (when this occurs).