Alcohol Consumption Patterns Before and After Retirement: A Longitudinal Cohort Study Within the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)

Introduction: Retirement is a major life-course transition that can reshape health behaviors, including alcohol consumption. However, longitudinal evidence from large cross-national cohorts remains scarce. Methods: In this longitudinal cohort study, Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe Waves 1-8 (2004-2020) were merged, linking individual-level data from 8,998 adults aged ≥50 years who were employed at baseline and retired during follow-up. Outcomes were near-daily drinking, consumption of ≥8 alcohol units in the previous 7 days, and binge drinking (≥4-6 units on one occasion at least monthly). Time relative to retirement was grouped into 9 periods (≥10 years before to ≥10 years after). RRs with 95% CIs were estimated using generalized estimating equations adjusted for sex, age, geography, education, marital status, occupation, BMI, and chronic conditions. Data were analyzed in 2023-2024. Results: At baseline, 18.1% drank almost daily, 18.7% consumed ≥8 units weekly, and 12.3% engaged in binge drinking. Compared with the retirement year, the risk of almost-daily drinking was lower 5-9 years before retirement (RR=0.86, 95% CI=0.78, 0.95) but higher 3-4 years (RR=1.12, 95% CI=1.01, 1.23), 5-9 years (RR=1.18, 95% CI=1.07, 1.31), and ≥10 years (RR=1.28, 95% CI=1.11, 1.48) after retirement. The weekly quantity did not change significantly. The risk of binge drinking was reduced both 5-9 years before (RR=0.86, 95% CI=0.77, 0.95) and ≥10 years after (RR=0.78, 95% CI=0.66, 0.93) retirement. Conclusions: Alcohol use trajectories evolve both before and after retirement: near-daily drinking increases across the transition, binge drinking declines thereafter, and weekly volume remains broadly stable. Targeted counseling around retirement could reinforce moderation.