Older people in America are binge-drinking even more dangerously than in years past. While young people aren’t drinking more than usual, people over the age of 30 are drinking a lot more, according to information put out recently by the Centers for Disease Control. (CDC)

The CDC Report Numbers

The CDC report, published Thursday, shows that binge drinkers are drinking more than ever. Overall, the average number of drinks consumed by binge drinkers per year increased from 472 in 2011, to 529 in 2017. Because the information is self-reported, officials believe that the number of drinks binge drinkers consume could be substantially higher.

According to the Center for Disease Control’s numbers from 2017, self-reported binge drinkers age 35 to 44 drank around 593 drinks per person. (The previous amount of alcoholic beverages per year was 468.) Older adults age 45 to 64 also had a small but significant increase in their binge-drinking behavior as well.

Binge Drinking In America

What is considered binge drinking? The CDC defines binge drinking is defined as five or more alcoholic beverages in succession for men. For women, the number of drinks is four.

Among study participants, the demographics are similar to those who use substances such as opioids. The largest increases in drinking were found among low-income, underemployed, and undereducated white Americas. More men than women, in general, are binge drinkers.

A different study done by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that people who binge drink when they get older is not an uncommon phenomenon. At least one in 10 people over age 65 binge drink. For older Americans, this means an increase in accidents or falls. Older people who take medications for chronic conditions are also at risk of causing their body permanent damage, such as liver or kidney injury.