Harmful drinking is a ‘middle class phenomenon’

People aged 50 and over in England who are classed as ageing “successfully” are more likely to drink at harmful levels, according to a new study.

Harmful drinking is a “middle class phenomenon”, according to new research

The research, published in the online journal BMJ Open, looked at alcohol consumption patterns of the over-50s and found

alcohol consumption is growing – with “harmful” or “high-risk” drinking peaking when men are in their mid-60s.

Scientists analysed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which assessed 9,000 men and women over the age of 50, and also revealed there were links with education and smoking in both sexes, but loneliness and depression were not associated.

In addition, retirement and income were associated with a higher risk for women, while men who were single, separated or divorced show a greater risk of harmful drinking.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence classifies “increased risk drinking” as the consumption of 22-50 units a week in men and 15-35 units in women, and “higher risk drinking” as more than 50 units a week in men and 35 units or more in women.

The study stated: “We can sketch – at the risk of much simplification – the problem of harmful alcohol drinking among people aged 50 or over in England as a middle-class phenomenon: people in better health, higher income, with higher educational attainment and socially more active are more likely to drink at harmful levels.

“The results reported in this paper allow us to conclude that, generally speaking, people aged 50 or over ageing ‘successfully’ in England are more at risk of drinking at harmful levels or of developing harmful drinking consumption patterns than those who fit less well into the paradigm of ageing ‘successfully’.”

Earlier this year, a study found that men’s alcohol consumption peaks at the age of 25 when they grow out of binge drinking, only for them to become daily drinkers in middle age.