An epidemic of drinking is threatening the health of 'empty nest' mums, but only one in 25 recognise the risks, a new survey suggests.

The research, found that more than a quarter of mums aged 45 plus, and whose children had left home, said their drinking had gone up since their children left. More than 40 per cent said they drank more or much more than their grown up children.

However 95 per cent said they were not worried about their drinking and only 4 per cent said they thought it was impairing their health. In the same survey, adults aged 18-24 were nearly twice as likely to be concerned about the negative effects of their drinking on their health.

Dr. Sarah Jarvis, Medical Advisor to the charity Drinkaware, said: “Whilst many believe it is the 20-somethings who are drinking too much, we are actually seeing an epidemic amongst British women aged 45-64. This is the fastest group of hazardous drinkers who are potentially putting their health at risk.”

“Women in this age group seem to be drinking more alcohol, more regularly – whether at home alone or out socialising. Many are unaware that a couple of glasses of wine each day can cause as much, if not more, damage than the binge drinking associated with many university students.”

The problem of increased drinking among adults in later life is already recognised

According to a separate study by the OECD in 2015, the largest group of hazardous drinkers among women in the UK are those aged 45-64 and this number is growing with 10 per cent of women in this age group drinking five times a week compared to 2 per cent of women aged 18-24.

Support charity Addaction has recently launched a programme Drink Wise Aged Well backed by £25m from the Big Lottery Fund aimed at cutting down the alcohol consumed by over 50s. Initially running in five areas of the UK including Glasgow, it is addressing an upsurge in drinking in later life, which experts believe could be fuelled by some of the stressful transitions people of that age face, including children leaving home, retirement, bereavement and loneliness.

Andrew Horne, director of Addaction Scotland said of the latest research: "this is a really interesting survey. It backs up what we have suspected that the over 50’s are drinking more.

"The stereotype of young hazardous drinkers is indeed surpassed by their parents. At Drink Wise Age Well we are increasingly coming into contact with high functioning people who are drinking at levels that may cause them serious health problems in the future”.