Are Older Women Drinking a Little Too Much?

A recent report by the UK Office for National Statistics validates concerns over the amount of alcohol being consumed by older people. It turns out that, while under-25s are still the heaviest drinkers, the retired community drinks more often. In fact, the report found that one in seven women over 65 consumes alcohol at least five days a week, compared to just one in 50 women aged from 16 to 24.

This is all the more concerning given the fact that, because of the additional dangers that seniors face, doctors had already advised that safe drinking limits should be halved for the over-65s.

This is important to women over 60 for many reasons. While a few glasses of wine have been argued to be good for one’s health, there is a risk of falls and other complications related to obesity and diabetes. In addition, it is important to remember that alcohol is very high in calories.

I’m sure that many women my age take a “why not?” attitude to drinking. Personally, I think that a couple of glasses of wine once or twice a week seem perfectly reasonable. But if you find yourself reaching for a glass (or two or three) every day, it might be time to examine how much of a drinking habit you have. If you have concerns about how much you are drinking, it really does make sense to reach out to your doctor or an organization that can help.

What is your take on this? Do you think women of our generation need to be extra careful about the amount of alcohol we consume? Please join the discussion.

Looking for more tips on how to stay healthy in your 60s and beyond? Check out this video.