Older Australians drinking too much

Dr Stephen Bright

writer

Dr Stephen Bright

Senior Lecturer of Addiction, Edith Cowan University

Dr Julie Dare

writer

Dr Julie Dare

Senior Lecturer, Health Promotion, Edith Cowan University

Drinking patterns tend to change as we age. The older we get, the more likely we are to drink on a daily basis. But older adults often perceive that drinking is only a problem if a person appears drunk.

Australia’s draft alcohol guidelines recommend healthy adults drink no more than ten standard drinks per week and no more than four in a day. This is down from 14 standard drinks per week in the previous guidelines and no more than two standard drinks in any one day.

Anything above this is considered risky drinking because it increases the risk of alcohol-related diseases, such as cancer, and injuries.

PASSWORD RESET

Forgot your password or password not working? Please enter your email address. You will receive an email with the link to set a new password.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
Dr Gabby Mahoney

Dr Gabby Mahoney

Allergen Introduction – Practical Tips for GPs

Prof Brendon Yee, A/Prof Ralph Audehm

Prof Brendon Yee, A/Prof Ralph Audehm

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

Dr Stephen Bright

writer

Dr Stephen Bright

Senior Lecturer of Addiction, Edith Cowan University

Dr Julie Dare

writer

Dr Julie Dare

Senior Lecturer, Health Promotion, Edith Cowan University

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

The government told the public that the average GP is earning $280k per year. Do you think this figure is:

Very overestimated

0%

Moderately/slightly overestimated

0%

Quite accurate

0%

Moderately/slightly underestimated

0%

Very underestimated

0%

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Save $160 when you register for a 2026 seminar today!

You're invited to attend the Women's & Children's Health Update 2026, Australia's most popular seminar for GPs and healthcare professionals. Secure your seat to a seminar in a city near you!