Very little is known about the role of alcohol in older people’s lives over the lifespan, patterns of alcohol use over older adulthood, and how the drinking patterns of older New Zealanders compare with patterns in older adults in other countries. Using data from the New Zealand Health, Work & Retirement Longitudinal Study (NZHWR), this report explores the patterns of drinking in older New Zealanders at a national level and in an international context. 

Specifically, this report presents:

• a review of drinking patterns in older adults 
• a comparison of drinking in older Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders
• an international comparison of the alcohol use patterns in older New Zealanders and older adults in eight other countries (England, the United States, South Africa, China, Mexico, Ghana, India and the Russian Federation).