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From The Times
August 27, 2007

Saga louts' drinking worries doctors

Fiona Hamilton

MONTROSE The increased prevalence of alcohol abuse among retired people is causing concern.

Peter Rice, a consultant psychiatrist based at Sunnyside Royal Hospital, Montrose, said yesterday that the typical “Saga Lout” had acquired a taste for drinking at home during the 1970s and 1980s when alcohol prices dropped and it became more socially acceptable. Figures for Scotland show that the number of people aged over 60 who were admitted to hospital with an alcohol-related illness increased to 10,573 in 2005-06 from 8,500 in 2001-02. The number of admissions of those aged between 15 and 19 fell to 1,462 from 1,733.

Dr Rice, who is calling for a hike in the price of alcohol, has told the think-tank Scotland’s Futures Forum of his concerns. “This is just the tip of one big iceberg, and the situation seems to be worsening,” he said. “The term I have used to capture the issue is ‘Saga louts’. Older people’s drinking has not had the same public awareness as young people’s drinking. These are important trends.”

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