Hidden harm? Alcohol and older people in Wales

Note: This report was funded and/or written by our predecessor organisation Alcohol Concern.

Currently, around 18% of the population of Wales is aged 65 years or older, equating to around 548,000 people. During the past fifty years in Wales the number of people aged over 60 has increased by 30%, and according to recent projections there will be 185,000 (29%) more pensioners in Wales in 2033 than in 2008, even taking into account planned changes in the official retirement age. This growth in the post-retirement population in Wales is largely the result of increasing average lifespan, and offers many positive possibilities. It also presents significant challenges in terms of ensuring our later years are ones in which we enjoy good health.