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Warning Over Alarming Alcohol Use By Over-65s

One in five pensioners are drinking alcohol at unsafe levels, according to research by King's College London.

The report published in the British Medical Journal analysed the medical records of 28,000 people in the London borough of Lambeth.

The study found that men were more likely to be unsafe drinkers than women, and those who consume too much alcohol are more likely to be white, Irish, and from wealthier backgrounds, while people from Caribbean, African or Asian ethnicities were less likely to drink.

Government guidelines define unsafe levels as 21 units a week for men, the equivalent of seven pints of 5% beer; and 14 units a week for women, around seven 175ml glasses of wine.

The study also revealed the top 5% of male alcohol drinkers consumed more than 49 units per week and women more than 23 units.

Dr Tony Rao, the report's lead author, said: "As the Baby Boomer generation become seniors, they represent an ever increasing population of older people drinking at levels that pose a risk to their health.

"This study shows the need for greater awareness of the potential for alcohol related harm in older people, particularly those of higher socio-economic status, who may suffer the consequences of ill health from alcohol at an earlier age than those in previous generations."

Another author of the study, Dr Mark Ashworth, said: "This research highlights that as GPs we need be more aware of the risk of older people, especially men, drinking excessively.

"Reducing alcohol misuse is important to prevent premature death and serious negative health effects, such as alcoholic liver disease, which are a big burden on our health system.

"Alcohol excess carries additional risks in the older population, such as falls and confusion."

The authors warn that results from inner-city London may not apply to other areas of the UK which have different demographics.

They also note that while the study contains an almost complete sample of older people in the area, people may have under-reported their alcohol consumption to their GP.