Baby boomers told to cut back on the booze

Over-60s urged to cut consumption to 11 units a week after sharp rise in deaths

Millions of baby boomers are being urged to cut their alcohol intake, amid warnings of a big rise in deaths linked to drink and drugs. GPS are being encouraged to talk to older drinkers about their alcohol consumption, especially if they are taking medication. Experts say the baby boomer generation is becoming the highest risk group, with men and women in their 60s and 70s now suffering the consequences of decades of excess.

MILLIONS of baby boomers should cut their alcohol intake to well below the recommended limits, amid warnings of a big rise in deaths linked to drink and drugs.

A report warned yesterday that the number of deaths linked to alcohol among the over-50s has risen by 45 per cent in a decade, while drug deaths have doubled.

GPS are being urged to talk to older drinkers about their alcohol consumption, especially after patients experience traumatic events such as the death of a loved one or a divorce.

Experts said the baby boomer generation was becoming the highest risk group, with men and women in their 60s and 70s now suffering the consequences of decades of excess.

Current Government advice suggests a limit of 14 units of alcohol a week for men and women. But the Royal College of Psychiatrists said older drinkers should treat this with caution – especially those on medication – and apply a more sensible limit of 11 units a week. UK statistics show a 20 per cent rise in the number of people aged 65 and over drinking above recommended alcohol limit in the last decade, with older drinkers the only group to see a continued rise.

Dr Tony Rao, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, one of the report’s editors, said: “Young people are decreasing their use of alcohol and drugs, leaving older people as fast becoming the highest risk group, across all types of misuse.” In terms of lives lost to disability in England, alcohol is now the fifth highest death-risk factor among people aged 50 to 69 – representing a rise from 16th place in 1990, the report warns.

It says European monitoring suggests that the number of people over 65 needing treatment for substance abuse is on course to have doubled between 2001 and 2020.

Dr Rao said millions of older drinkers should cut their drinking, because common medications and health problems meant alcohol could have considerable adverse effects on their health. “This is the age group which is most likely to be taking daily medication, whether it’s painkillers, drugs for hypertension, diabetes or sleeping pills,” he said.

“We are saying the current guidelines may not apply in those cases, and that 11 units or so a week might be a safer limit than 14 units.”

Professor Helen Stokeslampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPS, urged patients to at least stick to the Government advice.

“GPS are not killjoys, but safe drinking limits are set for good reason and we would encourage everyone to try to stick to limiting their intake to a maximum of 14 units a week, with at least two alcohol-free days every week,” she said.

Prof Stokes-lampard said doctors tried to take account of the “physical, psychological and social factors” that could affect patient habits, and that included asking questions about alcohol intake, smoking and any drug use to determine whether or not treatment or further tests were needed.

“It is alarming to see a doubling in deaths related to poisoning from substances in older people and this highlights the very real dangers of alcohol and drug misuse,” she said.