Drinking Behaviour of Elders in Hong Kong (aged 65 and above)

  • About 2/3 elders had never drunk alcohol in their lifetime.
 

Drinking pattern of elders aged 65 and above

Based on Department of Health's Population Health Survey 2003-2004, 8.7% of local elders aged 65 and above were regular drinkers (drink at least once a week), 12.3% were occasional drinkers (drink 3 days or less a month), 14.3% were ex-drinkers and 63.9% were non-drinkers.
Base: 1 006 community-dwelling elders aged 65 and above.
Note: * regular drinkers - drink at least once a week; ** occasional drinkers - drink 3 days or less a month.
Source: Population Health Survey, 2003-2004.Hong Kong SAR: Department of Health and Department of Community Medicine of the University of Hong Kong.
 
  • About 1 in every 5 elders was current alcohol user.
 

Proportion of elders aged 65 and above who were current alcohol users*

Based on Department of Health's Population Health Survey 2003-2004, 20.9% of local elders aged 65 and above were current alcohol users. The corresponding figures for males and females were 29% and 13.3% respectively.
Base: 1 006 community-dwelling elders aged 65 and above.
Note: * current alcohol users include regular drinkers (drink at least once a week) and occasional drinkers (drink 3 days or less a month).
Source: Population Health Survey, 2003-2004.Hong Kong SAR: Department of Health and Department of Community Medicine of the University of Hong Kong.
 
  • Only 1 in every 100 elders drank heavily at a single episode.
 

Proportion of elders aged 65 and above who experienced binge drinking* during the month before enumeration

Based on Department of Health's Population Health Survey 2003-2004, 1.0% of local elders aged 65 and above experienced binge drinking during the month before enumeration. The corresponding figures for males and females were 2.0% and 0.0% respectively.
Base: 1 006 community-dwelling elders aged 65 and above.
Note: * had at least 5 cans of beer, 5 glasses of wine or 5 pegs of liquor on one occasion.
Source: Population Health Survey, 2003-2004.Hong Kong SAR: Department of Health and Department of Community Medicine of the University of Hong Kong.