The ageing of Europe means that the absolute number of older Europeans with alcohol use disorders will rise and the consequences of these changes must be considered early. However, little is currently known about the health, social and economic impacts of alcohol consumption by this cohort. We do know that the elderly are more sensitive to alcohol’s negative health effects compared to younger adults and are more prone to fall injuries.1 Research also suggests that alcohol use disorders among the elderly are frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked.2 Significant shifts in global and European Union trade policies have resulted in lower average alcohol prices and greater alcohol availability as the EU has expanded, resulting in higher average consumption levels across most age groups.3
As part of its’ Council of the European Union presidency in 2009, the Swedish National Institute of Public Health (SNIPH) commissioned a report to examine alcohol consumption trends and alcohol-related harms among the elderly (aged ≥60 years) from 10 EU Member States (Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Poland, the UK, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden).4 For the first time, the survey revealed important trends in alcohol consumption and harm among the elderly, with implications for European public health policy. It was found that elderly Europeans drink in less hazardous ways …
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