Middle-aged men and women most likely to abuse alcohol

In the last year we have seen campaigns to discourage drinking by youngsters at university or those on the streets in poverty-stricken towns across the country; however, research by Dr Foster has indicated that people in their 40s are far more likely to be admitted to A&E for alcohol and drug abuse.

The Dr Foster study found that for every 500,000 people admitted to hospital for drinking and drug related illnesses, 120,000 were between the ages of 40 and 49 – almost one in every four cases.

People in their 30s are also abusing alcohol in huge numbers, with around 14% of hospital admissions being from this age group.

“The bulk of the problem is in this age group. It seems they are the ones that have used drinks and drugs more than previous generations and it is now catching up with them in middle age,” said Roger Taylor, Dr Foster’s co-founder.

The biggest alcohol problems are still seen in the poorest households, which suggests that attempts to price people out of binge drinking has failed. The least wealthy people are on average four times more likely to drink excessively and result in a medical emergency.

Drug and alcohol abuse accounts for around 10% of all A&E admissions, which costs the NHS £600 million every year.

While increasing the price of alcohol may be a deterrent for youngsters and the very poor, it is not stopping middle-aged people from buying more than they need. Alcohol is still a relatively small weekly expense and it is not possible to deter the majority of drinkers simply by increasing the price.