Binge drinking behind rise in violence among over 50s, experts suggest

Researchers point to ‘generational trait’ of high alcohol consumption – as new study shows steep rise in violence-related injuries among older people in England and Wales

Binge drinking among people over 50 could be behind a sharp rise in violence within the age group, new research has suggested.

Nearly 21,000 people aged 51 or over needed emergency hospital treatment for violence-related injuries in England and Wales last year – an 8 per cent rise, according to a Cardiff University study.

It is the second successive annual increase in violent injuries seen at A&E wards among this age group – now at their highest level for nine years.

The authors of the study claimed it was likely to reflect the high intake of alcohol among older people, with some binge drinkers continuing to behave as they did in their youth as part of a “generational trait”.

“Current cohorts of older people exhibited higher alcohol consumption levels in the past and may be continuing their relatively higher levels into older age,” the study stated.

“Since heavy binge drinking, and violence associated with it, were much more frequent three or four decades ago, it seems possible that this generational trait is also reflected in slowly increasing the risk of injury in violence.”

However, violence resulting in emergency hospital treatment decreased overall in 2019, according to the Cardiff University analysis.

Numbers of patients injured in violence treated in A&Es in England and Wales dropped by 6.3 per cent from the previous year – the steepest overall fall since 2015. Admissions by young adults with violent injuries were down 12 per cent.

Professor Jonathan Shepherd, one of the report authors from the university’s Crime and Security Research Institute, said the latest figures represent “real progress” on violence reduction.

“In all the concern about Covid-19 we mustn’t lose sight of other serious threats to public health,” he said. “This reduction in serious violence last year, if the measures put in place in 2018/19 to achieve this are maintained, means towns and cities will be safer when we come out of this crisis.”

Professor Shepherd said next year’s report would reflect the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes as survey by a leading addiction charity has found problem drinking is exacerbating tension caused by the lockdown for more than 3.5 million British adults.

A survey by Alcohol Change UK found 7 per cent – one in 14 people – said their own or someone else’s drinking had made stress levels in their household worse since the shutdown began.

Yet the survey also found huge numbers of people taking steps to manage their drinking more carefully during the shutdown – some 35 per cent have reduced their intake or stopped drinking all together.

Always drink responsibly. For more information, visit Drinkaware.co.uk.

For guidance and support on drug addiction, you can contact the 24-hour Frank helpline on 0300 123 6600, text the charity at 82111 or email at frank@talktofrank.com.