The US population is rapidly aging. The number of Americans ages 60 years and older (60+), an estimated 67 million in 2015, is projected to reach 112 million by 2050 (US Census Bureau, 2014). In 2014, 65% of US adults ages 60–64 and 56% of those ages 65+ reported consuming alcoholic beverages (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2015). Assuming that proportion remains relatively stable over time, the projected population expansion will lead to a substantial increase in the absolute number of older drinkers by 2050. This could have adverse public health consequences.
