Research just published in the journal BMJ Open, studied the alcohol consumption levels of UK residents over the age of 50.

Overall, levels of drinking in this age group are increasing, the report concludes (although binge drinking has reduced, suggesting more regular drinking patterns). Although for men, the peak is at 60, after which their drinking tends to diminish. They found that higher income is associated with more harmful levels of alcohol consumption in women, but strangely not so with men. Those who smoke, and those more educated also tend to drink more, for both genders.

Unfortunately the harmful effects of alcohol on our health are more pronounced the older we get, so these results have some alarming implications.