Do older Australians drink too much? This study says we all do
The CSIRO have unveiled the results of their annual Healthy Diet Score and it’s not good news for anyone.
The survey of 86,000 people found 99 per cent of Australians were eating too much junk food – with alcohol the main discretionary food for those 30 and up – with an average score of only 59 out of 100.
But when it comes to the old story that the over-50’s are the biggest drinkers, the data proved otherwise with those aged 31 to 50 edging out the older generation.
51 to 71-year-olds had an average of 17.6 serves of alcohol a week – the younger group had 19.9 a week.
A daily tipple?
Most of us like a drink or two once we’ve reach our later years. The NSW Department of Health recently concluded that one in seven over-65’s were drinking on a daily basis.
In the report, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant underlined the serious health problems that can result from heavy drinking, but she also made a good point.
“I suspect that a lot of older Australians drink with their friends as part of their interactions and as we know having older people connected and socialising is in itself a benefit to them,” she told the ABC.
Australians also don’t drink nearly as much as we have in the past, with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report recording we are now consuming the lowest amount of alcohol per person since the early 1960s.
Of the people it looked at, 60 per cent were classified as low-risk, while another 22 per cent didn’t drink at all.
Knowing the risks
While alcohol is associated with a range of cancers and a heightened risk of falls and harm, getting older also makes us more susceptible to these too.
The CSIRO study shows many of us do drink more than the recommended amount but as grown adults who are well aware of the risks, it’s our decision to have a drink or two.
The survey also found older people had better diets than the younger generation, with Australians 71+ having an average score of 63 to 57 for 31 to 50-year-olds.
Retired people also had the highest average overall diet score of 62, the same as health industry workers. That’s certainly something to celebrate.
Learn your own diet score at the CSIRO website here.
If you or someone you know needs help with alcohol issues, there is support available:
Lifeline 13 11 14
DrugInfo 1300 85 85 84
Family Drug Helpline 1300 660 068
