Zen detox centre has seen more women seeking for help for alcohol addiction.

More women are seeking help for alcohol addiction, according to an Auckland detox centre.

Over the past six months Kumeū-based detox centre Zen has found 52 per cent of its clients were women, which was unusual as it normally had a majority of men.

Programme manager Lance Crosby said many of the women seeking help were from higher socio-economic backgrounds, and either stay-at-home wives with day drinking issues or high-profile professionals struggling with alcohol abuse.

Crosby said the centre was also seeing an increase in middle-aged women seeking help.

READ MORE:

* Alcohol to have mandatory warning labels

* Alcohol is more dangerous than we thought

* The drinking of Kiwis over 50 is getting worse

"This shows that alcoholism and addiction issues don't discriminate – people come from all backgrounds and all levels of socio-economic status."

HANNAH ROSS/STUFF Founder of Zen Carlie Reynolds and programme manager Lance Crosby said there has been an increase of women seeking help with alcohol issues.

Crosby said the most common drug of choice for the women had been alcohol in the form of wine.

He said it's often retired women, working professionals, nurses and teachers.

"Our society has become more about owning a house and having a career and less about having relationships and connections."

Drug and Alcohol Practitioners' Association Aotearoa executive director Sue Paton said women's drinking had increased over time.

Paton said as women don't process alcohol in the same way men do it had greater impacts on their physical and mental health.

She said some people believed lower-socio-economic groups drank more but in reality those with a higher disposable income drank the most.

HANNAH ROSS/STUFF Over the past 12 months, 52 per cent of those presenting for treatment at Zen were women.

Ministry of Health guidelines recommend women drink no more than two standard units a day and no more than 10 a week.

A study from April showed drinking more than that made people die earlier than they otherwise would have.

"The more disposable income you have, the more you can spend on alcohol and other drugs. If you have a high income you can have a couple of bottles of pinot noir a night," Paton said.

She said in New Zealand alcohol is linked to success for the higher socio-economic group as "drinking a good wine is a form of success".

Paton said there was more negative stigma surrounding women with alcohol issues as drunkenness and women developing problems is a lot less acceptable.

Zen founder Carlie Reynolds said the women attending the centre were generally in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.

She said it was much harder for that demographic to get help as there was so much stigma surrounding it.

"Women in that age bracket have families, they've got commitments at home so it's harder for them to stop their lives top come in," she said.

Earlier this year a Massey University report found New Zealanders 50 years old and over were drinking more excessively and more frequently than adults in other countries.

Women who drink alcohol were also at an increased risk of developing breast cancer and drinking during pregnancy can cause risks to the unborn child.

On October 11 it was announced warning labels advising pregnant women about the dangers of drinking alcohol would become mandatory in New Zealand.

WHERE TO GET HELP:

Alcoholics Anonymous - 0800 AA WORKS, or aa.org.nz.

Anxiety New Zealand - 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)

Supporting Families in Mental Illness - 0800 732 825.