While Gen Y binge drink their way through their 20s, Gen X are quietly knocking back the chardonnays. From stressed out city workers to busy mums, alcohol helps us all wind down. But where is the line between enjoying a glass of two of wine and alcohol dependency?

The slacker stereotype that clung to Gen Xers during their formative years has seemingly faded away, with surveys now suggesting that both their older and younger colleagues rank them as the hardest working employees and bosses. What makes this group so valuable in the workplace?

As Gen X reach middle age, they’re growing more concerned about their finances yet remain unprepared for retirement. Additionally, they’re setting off alarm bells with their health problems and heavy drinking. How did they get in such bad shape? And what can be done to address their varied crises?

Gen X may be overlooked by marketers, but they've impacted everything from music to fashion to politics. Now that they’re in their 40s, they’ve replaced drug-fuelled raves with dinner and diapers – but that doesn't mean they're any less cool, as Tiffanie Darke, author of Now We Are 40, tells Canvas8.