NON alcoholic cocktails such as elderflower mojitos and mock champagne will be served during an event to highlight the impact of drinking on older people.

Age UK County Durham has organised next month’s event which is aimed at the over 50s.

The event is part of a wider project to help people become better informed about alcohol and its effect on us as we get older.

It follows research which found that in 2013, the cost of alcohol-related hospital admissions for the over 55s was £12.9m, compared to £7.2m for those aged 18-54.

The free event takes place on Wednesday, December 3 at North Road Methodist Church, in Durham, and starts at 11am.

People will be able to try samples of non-alcoholic cocktails and take the recipes away to make them at home. There will also be talks and practical demonstrations provided by volunteers involved in the project.

David Lewins, one of a new team of five specially trained volunteers, said: “People are really enjoying our sessions because we are older ourselves and we know how it is.

“We aren’t telling people not to drink but we are giving them the information and showing them how to make their own choices about what they drink and how much.

“People tell us that loneliness, depression, pain from long term conditions, feeling isolated and sad events like bereavement can cause them to drink more alcohol than they would normally”.

The event is free, but places should be booked in advance via Clare Midgley at engage@ageukcountydurham.org.uk or 0191 374 6567.