Significant Findings from National Trial
A major Australian trial has shown that an online self-help programme effectively reduces risky alcohol consumption among older Australians, decreasing their intake by an average of five standard drinks monthly.
The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, focused on Australians aged 60 to 75, a group increasingly experiencing high-risk alcohol use. National data indicate nearly one in five Australians in their 60s surpass recommended drinking guidelines, which poses significant long-term health risks.
Excessive alcohol consumption in older adults has been associated with rising cases of alcohol-related diseases and mortality, including liver disease and liver cancer. Alcohol remains a modifiable risk factor for dementia, yet it is often under-recognised in this age group.
Rethink My Drink Trial Results
The Rethink My Drink trial was conducted by UNSW Sydney and the University of Sydney. This trial tested a four-module online programme specifically designed for older adults, contrasting it with a standard information-only approach. Participants who completed the programme reduced their alcohol use by over 36 drinks per month on average.
Dr Louise Mewton, who initiated the study at UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, emphasised the need for addressing high-risk alcohol use. She stated, “High-risk alcohol use in older adults is increasing, but there are few effective treatments tailored to this life stage.”
A large-scale randomised controlled trial included 888 participants across Australia, making it one of the largest studies of its kind. After 12 months, those who completed the Rethink My Drink programme demonstrated a significant reduction in alcohol consumption, highlighting its effectiveness at a population level.
The program’s accessible, low-cost design allows for national implementation, potentially benefiting older adults in rural and underserved areas. Developed with input from older adults, the programme ensures relevance and ease of use.
Dr Mewton received a grant from the Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration to lead this project, aiming to reduce alcohol-related harms and protect older adults’ brain health.
Professor Perminder Sachdev, Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, highlighted the program’s potential impact: “This study shows scalable digital programmes can help address one of the most important modifiable risk factors for dementia.”
Globally, premature deaths related to alcohol use are concentrated in those aged 50–69 years. Increasing alcohol consumption among older adults has been accompanied by a parallel rise in alcohol-related disease and mortality. There have also been substantial increases in the prevalence of alcohol use disorder, alcohol-associated liver disease, and liver cancer from alcohol in those aged 70 years and older.
Last updated: 21 April 2026, 7:04 pm
