Alcohol use in the older adult US population: Trends, causes, and consequences

Alcohol use, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorders have been increasing among older adults in the US population, including adults over 50 as well as adults over 65. Increases in consumption are sharper among women, and among those who use additional substances such as cannabis, and those who are relatively healthy in older adulthood (i.e. those without multimorbidites). This commentary describes these trends as well as provides hypotheses, and the data underlying them, for both supply-side (alcohol marketing and messaging) and demand-side (healthier aging, increased financial stress) potential drivers of these increases. The need for additional resources and focus on older adult drinking is increasingly urgent, as alcohol-attributable deaths escalate among older adults in the United States. (c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Alcohol use, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorders are on the rise among older adults in the US, especially among women, those who use other substances, and those who are relatively healthy in older age. This commentary discusses the potential drivers of these increases, including alcohol marketing, healthier aging, and increased financial stress. The need for more resources and attention towards older adult drinking is becoming increasingly urgent, as alcohol-related deaths among older adults in the United States are escalating.