Alcohol and health remain controversial. But studies have repeatedly suggested that moderate alcohol consumption – the government defines that as two drinks a day for men, one for women – reduces mortality more than abstaining from alcohol completely. Of course, heavy alcohol consumption – over five drinks a day – is bad for you, studies also find.
A new study, just published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research finds alcohol consumption by adults over 60 is increasing, although it is lower than at earlier ages. Using data from the Health & Retirement Study (HRS) from 1998 through 2014, the study, led by Katherine Keyes of Columbia University’s School of Public Health finds:
- Among men, heavy drinkers had the lowest survival until roughly 8 or 9 years later, at which point abstainers had the lowest survival rate.
- Among women, current abstainers had the lowest survival throughout the study period.
- Relative to occasional drinking, lifetime abstaining for women and current abstaining for men and women were associated with higher mortality, while moderate drinking was associated with lower mortality rates for men and women.
- Compared to occasional drinkers who reported never smoking, occasional drinkers who currently smoke or smoked in the past have an increased risk of mortality, while moderate drinkers/never smoked have a lower risk of mortality.
- Compared to occasionally drinking women, lifetime and currently abstaining women had higher mortality rates.