Binge Drinking Not Just a Rite of the Young

Older alcoholics tend to drink heavily more often than younger people, study finds.

Older people who are problem drinkers consume more alcohol than their younger counterparts, a new report finds, possibly because they need more alcohol to achieve the same effect.

According to a study released this month, people dependent on alcohol who are older than 60 consume more than 40 drinks a week, on average. By contrast, younger alcoholics consume 25 to 35 drinks a week.

Older drinkers are also more likely to binge drink, a term that refers to drinking heavily in one sitting.

"A combination of high levels of drinking and the physiological effects of aging are particularly problematic for older adults," Linda Ginzer, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in social work at Ohio State University, said in a university news release.

useful links: transport rankings