Online shopping fuels alcoholism among women

Online shopping delivery services are partly to blame for the growing number of elderly middle class women suffering from alcoholism, doctors have claimed.

Online shopping delivery services have been attributed to the increase in elderly middle class women needing treatment for alcohol abuse

Figures published by Public Health England (PHE) showed an increase of 65% in the number of women over the age of 60 beginning treatment for alcohol-related issues in the past five years.

Those over pension age now form nearly one in 10 of all women currently participating in a formal alcohol dependency programme.

“Many of the women I see are retired professionals who never had issues with alcohol in the past,” said consultant psychiatrist Dr Paul McLaren of Priory Hospital Hayes Grove.

“A common pattern is for regular drinkers, who have had their consumption constrained by the structure of working, tipping into harmful drinking in retirement.”

The total number of women who entered into alcohol treatment in 2013-2014 was 2,276 compared to just 1,436 five years ago.

The rise has also been attributed to loneliness, retirement and bereavement.

“Retirement, bereavement and loneliness can increase a person’s drive for alcohol,” added Dr McLaren, “But the dangers of alcohol are increased among older drinkers, particularly because of medication, frailty and other health problems.

“Older women don’t necessarily fit the stereotypes people hold about alcohol misuse and they often keep their drinking hidden.

“Some are socialising more – which is wonderful – but of course that often revolves around taking alcohol, and some elderly people mistakenly believe they have built up an alcohol tolerance.”

The number of men requiring treatment is still significantly higher than that of women, but the gap between the sexes has halved over the five year period.

Earlier this month a poll conducted by Channel 4 News revealed adults aged over 60 drink alcohol on nearly twice as many days a week as those aged between 16-30.