The over 50s in a changing Ireland: economic circumstances, health and well-being.

This report uses data from the second wave of TILDA data collection, which lasted from April 2012 to January 2013, to examine how the lives of the over 50s in Ireland have changed since the first wave of data collection in 2010. Some key findings: 16% of smokers at wave 1 had quit by wave 2. A notable decrease in smoking occurs after the age of 65 years. The overall prevalence of problematic alcohol use has increased between wave 1 and wave 2 and is significantly higher in men (21.7%) than in women (11%). There is a drop in problematic alcohol use after the age of 65 years.