With the harmful use of alcohol declining across the whole population but increasing among older adults, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has today sponsored and spoken at the ‘Drink Wise, Age Well’ programme launch event for their ‘Calling Time for Change’ Charter.
‘Drink Wise, Age Well’, a Big Lottery funded Programme delivered in the Cwm Taf UHB area as well as in 4 other UK regions, aims to help people make healthier choices about alcohol as they age.
Speaking at today’s event, Mr Isherwood said the Drink Wise, Age Well ‘Calling Time’ report, ‘Addressing ageism and age discrimination in alcohol policy, practice and research’, found that more than 4 million Britons over 50 think they should cut back on the amount of alcohol they drink, and that the ‘Calling Time for Change’ Charter has been published as a Charter for politicians and policy makers in Wales about how to reduce alcohol harm among people over 50.
Speaking at the event, he said:
“A UK survey of 2,120 over 50s found 24% of 50-54 year olds sometimes think they should cut down, compared with 20% of 60-64 year olds and 10% of over 75s. Overall, 17% think they should cut down. In the UK, harmful drinking is declining among every age group except the over 50s.
“In Wales, those aged 65 and over are the only age group where drinking above the daily guidelines is increasing.
“Data from the Office for National Statistics shows people over 45 are most likely to drink at hazardous levels, while younger generations are drinking less.
“The number of alcohol related deaths for over 50s has risen 45% since 2001 and Public Health data shows that alcohol is now the sixth biggest cause of disability among people in their 50s and 60s, up from 16th in 1990.
“The Charter was co-designed with people and families affected by alcohol problems and experts in alcohol and ageing, and key recommendations in the Charter include challenging practices which demonstrate direct or indirect age discrimination, removing age-related barriers from alcohol treatment and support services, challenging stigma and negative attitudes of health and social care professionals through shared good practice, and raising awareness of the factors affecting older adults such as retirement, bereavement and loss of purpose.”
Mr Isherwood added: “As the ‘Drink Wise, Age Well’ report concludes, ‘Ageism is rarely a result of malign intentions or motives, and practitioners are often not even aware of the prejudices they have. Nevertheless, ageism can be a major barrier to developing good strategy, and also seriously impact the quality of care and support that older adults receive for alcohol problems’. ‘In the worst-case scenario’, it says, ‘age discrimination may result in preventable deaths’.
“Alleviating it will require action across multiple sectors so that action can be coordinated and balanced and will need to encompass the great diversity of older populations. The recommendations are intended to be a starting point.
“The overarching message is optimistic: with the right policies and services in place, there is no reason why older adults should be left behind in terms of progress towards reducing alcohol-related harm”.
