Problem drinking after retirement

There is an epidemic of ‘late onset’ alcohol misuse among over-60s who turn to drink after retirement, new research indicates.

The study, by UK charity Foundation66, found that one in eight people over 60 admitted to drinking more after retirement.

One in five admitted to drinking alcohol because of depression, and one in eight used alcohol to deal with bereavement.

The study of more than 850 people over 60 also found that one in eight people most often drink alone at home.

According to the researchers, the dangers of alcohol misuse increase among older drinkers, particularly because of medication, frailty, and other health problems.

“The older people we see with drink problems come from all walks of life. Many are retired professionals, who never had issues with alcohol in the past,” they said.

A 75-year-old retired magistrate from London said in the study that she started drinking heavily when she stopped working and was looking after her disabled husband.

On average, she was drinking a bottle of vodka and two or three glasses of wine every day.

“I hadn’t prepared myself for retirement and found the loss of status hard to bear. My husband’s illness added to the strain, and my own health stated to deteriorate. Drinking was just a way of coping,” the woman said.

The research also found that one in 10 adults were concerned about the amount of alcohol drunk by a friend or family member aged 60 or over.

“A huge number of people are clearly worried about their parents’ or grandparents’ drinking habits,” the researchers said.

“Our own projects have scratched the surface of a huge unmet need among older people, and the problem will only get worse. Without urgent intervention this will become a major issue, costing our society a great deal,” the researchers concluded.

[Posted: Tue 14/07/2009]