BABY BOOZE GENERATION

Warning that over-45s risk health by over-indulging

BABY boomers booze more regularly than any other age group – and binge drink the most.

Over-45s are putting their health at risk by frequently exceeding guidelines on what it is safe to drink.

The Office for National Statistics for England found 55 to 64-year-olds were particularly likely to be drinking “at higher or increasing risk levels”.

Dr Tony Rao, substance misuse expert at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “While the rest of the population reduces its alcohol intake, baby boomers are drinking at a similar rate as before – and exceeding recommended guidelines.

“People expect to live longer, so they aren’t slowing down just because they’re in their 60s.”

Last year 60% of women and 69% of men aged 45 to 64 had drunk in the last week, the highest proportion of any age group.

Also 13% of women aged 65 and over, drink on five or more days, the most of any female group.

A quarter of men aged 65 and over also drink on five or more days, also the highest of any age group of men.

Such regular drinking is more than three times more likely among those 65 and over than for 16 to 24-year-olds.

The 45 to 64-year-olds are also the most likely to binge drink, which is classed as four or more units in a session for men, three for women.

High earners on £40,000 or more are also more likely to be frequent and binge drinkers, research found.

Dr Rao called the data “very concerning” and added: “This is a wake-up call to take stock of drinking to reduce the chance of developing serious alcohol-related mental health problems.” NHS Digital also showed a record 339,000 admissions related to alcohol consumption in 2015/16 – 22% higher than 2005/6. Some 39% of patients were 45 to 64. Alcohol has become 4% more affordable since 2006. But Dave Roberts, of the industry-funded Alcohol Information Partnership, said the figures showed most adults drank sensibly and within health guidelines. He added: “We welcome positive trends around binge drinking and harmful drinking which have declined since 2005.”

EVERYTHING in moderation and that includes alcohol.

Figures showing many over-45s are hitting the bottle heavily sets alarm bells ringing and requires a public health response.

Nobody wants to be a killjoy but the damage to individuals and families, never mind the cost to the NHS and economy, can’t be ignored.