Baby boomer drinkers ‘are NHS burden’

Individuals in the baby boomer generation who drink alcohol are proving a large burden for the NHS.

This is according to new research from Alcohol Concern, which showed people aged between 55 and 74 are costing the health service dear with regard to alcohol-related health costs.

It was shown that individuals in this age bracket are over ten times more likely than those aged between 16 and 24 to require alcohol treatment as a consequence of consumption.

Furthermore, the study revealed inpatient costs regarding baby boomers is more than the combined expense of similar costs for 16 to 24-year-olds and all alcohol-related accident and emergency outlay.

Eric Appleby, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, noted the increasing cost of alcohol misuse is often blamed on the younger generations – but these findings suggest this is not the case.

Mr Appleby stated: "It is the middle-aged and often middle class drinker, regularly drinking above recommended limits, who are actually requiring complex and expensive NHS care."