Older Drinkers More Impaired by Moderate Alcohol than Younger Drinkers

Older Adults after a Few Drinks

If you’re older than 50 and have a couple of drinks, you may want to take some extra time before getting into the car and driving home.

• Moderate amounts of alcohol impair older adult’s more than younger drinkers. Alcohol is metabolized and removed from the body differently when older.

• Moderate amounts of alcohol can cause measurable impairment for those over 50.

• Older Adults More Impaired: Although older adults become more impaired after drinking the same amount as younger drinkers, they don’t recognize themselves being impaired.

• An Accident Can Change Your Life: People who are killed in alcohol-related accidents make headlines, but we seldom hear about the traffic crashes and accidents that merely injure or maim older adults, changing their quality of life for the rest of their years.

The University of Florida study showed adults aged 50 to 74 who drank the equivalent of two drinks took five seconds longer to complete a task than adults 25 to 35 who had the same amount to drink. An important finding was that the drinkers in both groups self-reported their estimated level of impairment about the same on a scale from 1 to 10, but the tests revealed that the older drinkers were significantly more impaired.

• If You Drink, Take Your Time: If you’re over age 50 and had a couple of drinks, you may be impaired to the point that it’s unsafe for you to drive, even though you feel perfectly fine. The authors of the Florida study suggest that you take a little extra time before getting in the car and driving home. “If you have a couple of drinks at dinner, sit around, have dessert — don’t drive for a while,” they suggested.

•  I often see these older adults ( my age!) announcing they've successfully driven tipsy for years, I’ll be OK. Their peers will say, “Oh, you should have seen him last year! And he make it OK.” Funny how we ourselves do what we've tried to teach our children not to do.  I’m more worried about who they hit than the drunk driver.  Their lives are forever changed with ongoing medical issues, fear of driving, or death. 

Let’s change things up a bit this holiday!     

•  Ahead of time, ask for volunteers or designate one or more people at your event this 4th that will remain sober and drive drinkers home.
• Collect the keys when friends and relative arrive to the party. It’s much too difficult trying to collect them once drinking has started.
• If they refuse to give up their keys – they’ll have to leave or no drinking. 
  Remember – you’re also responsible if someone leaves your home drunk and something happens.       
• If this would have been done a few years ago at a party, my Great Aunt and her daughter-in-law might still be alive.

All my best this 4th of July!

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