Whether you think success is the individualist’s carrot to enjoy after a lifetime of thoughtful adaptation to an increasingly capricious market, or a fictitious stick specifically designed to drive you absolutely mad, heed this – if you’ve achieved equity, had a family (or perhaps chosen not to), and are basically capable of being a healthy, active and sociable fifty-something or older, it may be time for you to stop drinking, or perhaps ease off the drinks, per de rigueur de la classe.
STOP DRINKING? au CONTRAIRE MON CAPITAN
In a statistical study receiving 9,000 responses, researchers have concluded that over-drinking is a “middle class phenomenon,” that is possibly a major strand of social dissonance, causing unnecessary health and social destitution to an extent that really isn’t emotionally or psychologically necessary for an older person who’s already flourished.
To be more specific the study found that men in their early 60s had a higher rate of heavy drinking than all other ages over fifty. Conversely, instead of a latent peak, women’s risk for heavy drinking fell proportionately with age. This isn’t to imply that women *get it* earlier (because somehow, we already knew that).
WHY SHOULD THE SOON-TO-BE-AGED STOP DRINKING?
From the researchers’ study, it appears that the present’s golden-age population may be drinking more frequently, and in heavier doses than they have since they first became acquainted with drinking in college.
Additionally, greater income increases the chances for women over fifty to drink more. However, smoking, higher education diplomas, and fair health each significantly increase the risk of heavy drinking, for both the sexes.
WHY DO MEN HAVE IT EASIER?
When it comes to the risk of drinking, they actually don’t. Women’s drinking habits seem unaffected by the status of domestic partnership, but men who live alone are more likely to drink heavily, especially if they’re divorced or separated, especially if they’re caucasian.
MATERNAL INSTINCTS ARE A GOOD THING
Women responsible for others’ care tend to take care of themselves too, in this respect, lowering their likelihood to drink dangerously. In England, though, the researchers declared this phenomenon of increased likelihood for heavy drinking to be more of a “middle class phenomenon,” and so presumably something the fifty-somethings and older of the upper class does not have to be susceptible to. People over fifty in good health, with more income, higher educational diplomas and a generally more active social life are more likely to overdrink than simply stop drinking.
Researchers concluded that this will to alcoholism among those men and women over fifty is something associated with affluence, and the coveted “successful” aging process.
