Women might want to think before they drink, observes Stewart, a professor of sociology, as she presents a compelling case for abstaining in this heavily footnoted book…. Important and informative.

Booklist

Following data that show that women are drinking more since 2000—encompassing general alcohol usage, high-risk drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorder—Stewart provides a qualitative study that asks “What about women’s lives has changed such that they drink more alcohol?”…. It is intriguing to read about how women in her study interpret drinking in the 21st century, making this a valuable piece in a larger story about the intersections of alcohol use/non-use and family, marketing, mothering, mental wellness, and social media. Some of the topics covered include growing support for women’s drinking, alcohol’s impact (positive and negative) on women’s reputation in social and kinship groups and relationships with family and friends, and common misinformation about what qualifies as dangerous drinking. Recommended. All levels.

Choice Reviews

Pairing themes from her own interviews with statistics and quantitative research findings, Stewart provides important insight into individual, interpersonal, and social factors that have led women to drink more in recent years. Her unbiased analysis shows that while women’s drinking isn’t “good” or “bad,” the trend of increasing alcohol consumption among women is something we really need to explore and be more aware of!

Abigail Riemer, assistant professor of Psychology, Carroll University

On the Rocks is a sometimes sassy, sometimes somber exploration of the complexities of women’s lives. Susan Stewart dives into the reasons women drink and provides the reader with compelling narratives of why we should care more about women's alcohol use. A must-read for anyone interested in women’s relationship with alcohol.

Kelly Harding, Research Associate, Canada FASD Research Network