Life Experience and Alcohol: 60–75-year-olds’ Relationship to Alcohol in Theme Interviews

Abstract

The article describes drinking habits of Finnish older adults and their relationship to alcohol. The study is based on the analysis of theme interviews among 60-70-year-old urban people. The method was biographical, qualitative content analysis. Alcohol consumption of the older adults was investigated through the analysis of changes in the use of alcohol during life course and the features of current drinking habits. The article argues that events of both life course and changing Finnish alcohol culture have shaped the drinking habits of older adults. The drinking habits and meanings given to alcohol consumption among older adults vary in many respects. A common factor in the drinking habits of older adults is the everyday nature of drinking; as with other Finns of today alcohol has become more commonplace than before. However, for the great majority of older adults, advanced years have produced skills in controlling the alcohol use and avoiding intoxication. The skill to consume alcohol within moderation has evolved with age and the course of life.

Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design

“…Ethnicity was not reported in other studies. Only 5 studies reported SES of participants or a proxy [ 16 – 20 ]. Of these one recruited from predominantly high socioeconomic areas [ 19 ], the other studies included a range of socioeconomic groups, none specifically recruited people from low SES groups ( S3 File ).…”

“…Most studies appeared to include participants drinking at a range of levels, though this was sometimes not clearly reported. A number of studies included some abstainers, including past drinkers [ 9 , 10 , 18 , 20 – 22 ]; one study reported excluding lifetime abstainers [ 20 ]. Two papers using the same study participants clearly reported the distribution of drinking patterns of participants [ 9 , 10 ] and included occasional minimal drinkers, moderate and heavy drinkers, currently abstinent previously dependent drinkers and a small number of dependent drinkers.…”

“…It was often used at special occasions or as a treat such as with a good quality wine [ 19 ], or to bring something special to the day, for example, ‘a regular evening is enhanced by a glass of wine or as a prize after completing some work’ [ 20 ]. Social drinking was often viewed as ‘about spending time together in a cosy and relaxed atmosphere, and did not require vast amounts of alcohol’ [ 20 ].…”

“…People tended to adopt or share drinking habits of their partner, family members or peers [ 10 , 14 , 16 , 20 ]. Drinking was often identified as a habit or as part of a regular routine such as a drink in the evening [ 10 , 14 , 19 ].…”

A Qualitative Study of Service Provision for Alcohol Related Health Issues in Mid to Later Life

“…Recent research has suggested that age-specific practices required to meet the needs of older people, in relation to alcohol consumption, and draw them into treatment are poorly understood[ 18 ]. However research on alcohol consumption in older adults is still relatively scarce, there are notably few quantitative studies and no qualitative studies investigating support for alcohol related health issues in older people[ 9 ][ 10 ][ 19 – 21 ]. Therefore this research contributes to the limited body of in-depth qualitative evidence regarding the issues surrounding alcohol consumption in mid to later life.…”