It's Not Just College Kids. Binge Drinking Among Older Adults On The Rise, Study Finds

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- New research shows the number of people over 65 who binge drink is increasing, but doctors say too much alcohol can be especially harmful for older adults.

When we think of binge drinking, we think of college students. But new research from NYU School of Medicine shows that one in ten older adults currently binge drinks. For men, that's five or more drinks on a given occasion. For women, it's four or more.

Dr. Benjamin Han is an assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine. He says, "It looks like there has been an increase in binge drinking among older adults."

The study author says the findings are concerning because as we age, changes in the body make older people much more sensitive to alcohol.

"In addition, older adults tend to have more chronic diseases and take more prescribed medications, and alcohol can negatively impact existing chronic disease. It can also interact with a range of different prescribed medications that can be potentially dangerous," Dr. Han says.

As we age, guidelines suggest it's best to drink less. An older person who is healthy and does not take medications should not have more than seven drinks in a week. Dr. Han says, "It also depends on if you have certain conditions, it's probably much safer not to drink at all."

New York photographer Stephen Sherman says as he gets older, he has cut down on drinking. "I drink very little - one or two drinks a week, if that. I've recently had some heart issues," he says.

Researchers say older adults should talk with their doctor about what level of drinking is safe for them.

The study also found older adults who use cannabis are more likely to binge drink, which can be a dangerous combination.