Charity warns of ‘epidemic’ of alcohol misuse among retired

The government has been urged to tackle an “epidemic” in alcohol misuse among older people, after a poll found one in eight over-60s drank more after they retired.

The YouGov poll, commissioned by substance misuse charity Foundation66, found that 19% of those who drank more after retirement did so to deal with depression while 13% drank more to cope with bereavement.

One in 10 UK adults were also concerned about the amount of alcohol drunk by a friend or family member over 60.

Foundation66 said pensioners accounted for 357,300 alcohol-related hospital admissions in England last year, a 75% increase  in five years. However, it said there were not enough services to tackle the problem, despite known risks to older drinkers because of their use of medication, frailty and other health problems.

Foundation66 chief executive Sally Scriminger said this was because older drinkers did not “fit the stereotypes people hold about alcohol misuse, and because they often keep their drinking problem hidden”.
“Without urgent intervention this will become a major issue, costing the NHS and our society a great deal,” she warned.

Related articles

Drugs focus for social work research unit

Third of children may be living with binge-drinking parents

More from Community Care

Comments are closed.