Warning to baby boomers about drinking in older age

A recent report on alcohol and older people commissioned by Health Scotland examines the drinking patterns of the present “baby boomer” generation (the large population cohort born between 1945 and 1965) and looks at the health implications of higher than recommended drinking in old age. The report looks at the future health implications of a larger older population that contains a significant proportion of people who drink more than the recommended level of alcohol and suggests this could be a "demographic time bomb".

Specialists in health and older people at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh are calling for particular attention to be paid to problems associated with drinking in later life. Much has been reported in the media over the last weeks about Scotland being the eighth country in the world league table of alcohol consumption.

According to Dr Jan Gill, Leader of the Alcohol Evidence Group at Queen Margaret University, most attention seems to be on the problems of teenage and younger adult drinkers, with little concern for the particular problems associated with the older population's relationship with alcohol.

She explained: “The Alcohol and Ageing Report has highlighted the potential impact of our ‘demographic time bomb'. Individuals born post-war, between 1945-1965, known as the ‘baby boomers', are now in, or approaching, their sixties. This group consume relatively higher levels of alcohol than their predecessors.

"The concern is that if they continue this pattern of drinking in older age they will place significant alcohol-related demands on future health and social services.

“In Scotland it is estimated that if this group do not reduce consumption as they age, the number whose drinking may be a threat to healthy old age may rise over three fold.”

Dr Gill believes that many of us are living with a false sense of security believing that the positive health effects of moderate alcohol consumption outweigh the harmful effects. She explained:

“Research published last week linking moderate consumption to increased cancer risk, demands we question this widespread belief. Another area of concern is that published work has suggested that alcohol problems in older people go undetected for longer, and are often misdiagnosed.”

Yvonne Coull, Director of the RBS Centre for the Older Person's Agenda (COPA) at Queen Margaret University, believes that in order to develop public health strategies to assist and educate target groups, we first need to fully grasp the specific issues facing older people. She explained:

“Bereavement, physical ill-health, anxiety, unemployment, retirement, life changing events, financial difficulties, difficulty getting around and social isolation can lead to boredom and depression. Also, physical illness may be painful and it can be tempting to use alcohol to make these difficulties more bearable.” “Alcohol can easily become part of the daily routine and it can be difficult to give up. Also, there may be less pressure to give up drinking than for a younger person, with older people often having fewer family responsibilities, and no pressure to go to work each day.”

Dr Gill concluded: “We often ignore the potential impact of alcohol on prescribed medication (64% of prescriptions in UK in 2004 were prepared for the older population). In the light of this information, new research findings and our existing understanding of the physical changes to the body as we grow older, it is timely to call for further health and social research to be conducted. This will inform evidence based advice, for instance, safe drinking limits, to the older Scottish population. ”

Dr Gill warns: “Lack of action will ultimately lead to major problems in the near future for individuals, families, NHS services and society as a whole.”

For further information you can contact Lynne Russell (lrussell@qmu.ac.uk)

To download the report click here