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Enhancing our understanding of drinking in later life: qualitative data refreshes parts that other data cannot reach | Age and Ageing | Oxford Academic


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The messages the public receive concerning research on alcohol and health are confusing. One-day research tells us that moderate drinking is acceptable and that abstaining from alcohol altogether can lead to health problems such as dementia [1]. The following week, the latest research says that there are no safe levels of alcohol consumption [2]. Syntheses of research evidence, usually meta-analyses, suggest that there are harmful effects of drinking in older age; the apparent protective effects of moderate consumption may be due to misclassification bias, with previously heavy drinkers stopping drinking and being classified as non-drinkers [3, 4]. Unsafe and risky patterns of alcohol consumption have tended to be associated with binge drinking teens and young adults. We have only recently begun to pay attention to the drinking patterns of those in the middle and older age groups. Reports state that it is now older adults who are most at risk of unhealthy patterns of drinking. Specific public health interventions are needed to address this group [5, 6].. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai

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