Could more than three million older people in England be at risk of alcohol-related harm? A cross-sectional analysis of proposed age-specific drinking limits.

OBJECTIVE

to determine the impact of recently proposed age-specific alcohol consumption limits on the proportion and number of older people classified at risk of alcohol-related harm.

DESIGN

nationally representative cross-sectional population data from the Health Survey for England (HSE).

PARTICIPANTS

adults with valid alcohol consumption data, comprising 14,718 participants from 2003 and 14,939 from 2008.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

the prevalence of alcohol consumption in excess of existing and recently proposed consumption limits, plus associated population estimates.

RESULTS

the number of individuals aged 65 or over and drinking in excess of daily recommended limits would have increased 2.5-fold to over 3 million in 2008 under age-specific recommendations proposed in a report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, equating to an at-risk population 809,000 individuals greater than found within the 16-24 age group during the same year. Suggested revisions to existing binge drinking classifications would have defined almost 1,200,000 people aged 65 or over as hazardous consumers of alcohol in 2008-a 3.6-fold increase over existing definitions.

CONCLUSION

age-specific drinking recommendations proposed in the Royal College of Psychiatrists Report would increase the number of older drinkers classified as hazardous alcohol consumers to a level greater than found among young adults aged 16-24.