Binge drinking among older adults is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, according to a new study published in Alcohol .
Researchers analyzed data from a large national study of more than 129,000 Canadian adults aged 50 and older and found a graded association between binge drinking frequency and mortality risk, even after accounting for health status, mental health, and socioeconomic factors.
Drawing on the 2005–2014 Canadian Community Health Survey linked to the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database, the study followed participants for up to 12 years. Approximately 40% of older adults who consumed alcohol at least monthly reported binge drinking at least once in the preceding year, and 8% reported binge drinking weekly or more.
After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, individuals who never engaged in binge drinking had a 34% lower risk of mortality compared to those who binge drank weekly or more. Even after accounting for self-reported health, chronic illness, smoking, physical activity, and mental health conditions, the protective difference remained significant: those who never binge drank had a 19% lower mortality risk compared to weekly binge drinkers.
“Much of the research on binge drinking has focused on younger populations,” said Andie MacNeil, PhD student at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW), University of Toronto. “Our findings show that binge drinking among adults aged 50 and older is not only prevalent, but also associated with a meaningful increase in mortality risk. Older adults need to be included in prevention and screening efforts.”
The study also highlights how health status can complicate interpretations of alcohol research. Before statistical adjustment, non-binge drinkers appeared to have higher mortality rates — a pattern often observed in alcohol studies due to selection effects, where individuals in poorer health may have reduced or stopped drinking. This is sometimes called the ‘sick quitter’ effect.
“Our analysis demonstrates the importance of accounting for underlying health and socioeconomic factors when examining alcohol-related risk,” said co-author Yu Lung, a PhD candidate at the FIFSW. “Once those factors are considered, the elevated risk associated with frequent binge drinking becomes clear.”
The findings underscore the need for age-inclusive public health messaging and clinical screening practices. While alcohol-related harms are often framed around acute risks in youth, such as injury or impaired driving, this study emphasizes long-term mortality risks in later life.
“As Canada’s population ages, we must challenge the misconception that substance use in later life is less consequential,” said Esme Fuller-Thomson, Professor at the FIFSW and Director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto. “Primary care providers and public health campaigns should ensure that older adults are not overlooked in conversations about binge drinking and its health impacts. Public health messaging tends to focus on college campuses, but our findings show we need to think about retirement communities too.”
The researchers note that because alcohol consumption was measured at a single time point, future longitudinal studies tracking changes in drinking patterns over time are needed. Nonetheless, the large nationally representative sample and linkage to administrative mortality data provide strong evidence that frequent binge drinking poses significant health risks for older adults.
Alcohol
Observational study
People
Binge drinking and mortality among older adults: Findings from the Canadian Community Health Survey linked to the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database
11-Feb-2026