Today’s older adults in Sweden drink more alcohol than earlier cohorts of older adults. Alcohol consumption is affected by life transitions. A major life transition in older adulthood is retirement. Many natural inhibitors of alcohol consumption disappear with the removal of the work constraints and fundamental changes in daily structure, thereby facilitating increased alcohol consumption. This study investigates changes in drinking habits following retirement. Data come from the HEalth, Aging and Retirement Transitions in Sweden (HEARTS-study), a nationally representative study of 60-66-year-olds with annual follow-ups (n=3696). Preliminary results show that retired individuals drink more than those who are still working, and the drinking habits of both these groups seem stable over time. Those who retire during the follow-up increase their drinking right after retirement and this increase continues further into the subsequent year. More knowledge is needed about subgroups of retirees that increase drinking into risky levels.
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