Elderly British Get Frisky on Holidays

By Jennifer Hill, Reuters via Windsor Star

April 8, 2008

United Kingdom

A growing number of older Britons are indulging in risky holiday behaviour, the British Foreign Office warned recently.

It said it had witnessed the rise of the OAP -- "overseas and plastered" -- phenomenon among the over-55s. OAP is also an acronym in Britain for old age pensioner.

People in this age group are taking more foreign holidays than before, but a fifth of them are taking risks they would not contemplate at home, the Foreign Office said.

Bungee-jumping, parasailing, water-skiing and moped-riding are just some of the activities on the holiday itineraries of today's older generation.

More than half of those drink more alcohol than usual while on holiday, and a third said they would indulge even more in an all-inclusive resort, according to a poll of 1,020 British adults for the Foreign Office.

Almost a fifth of couples say they or their partner have been injured abroad, 14 per cent are less worried about their personal safety abroad than at home and more than a tenth do not follow the safety advice they would give to their children.

Rania Kossiori, British vice-consul in the Greek island of Rhodes, said: "Most problems that we see with the older generation of Brits arise from over-consumption of alcohol and food.

"Drinking and staying too long in the sun can make you ill and undertaking strenuous activity like going swimming or snorkelling after a large meal can put you in unnecessary danger: people have drowned this way."

Too much alcohol can also lead to the sort of behaviour usually associated with the younger generation, such as becoming abusive, she added.

Despite making three times as many travel insurance claims than younger travellers, 65 per cent of those surveyed admitted to taking their last trip overseas without insurance and more than 80 per cent do not have a health check before travelling.

Foreign Office minister Meg Munn said: "The FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office) is all for over-55s having fun on holiday, but it is crucial that they make some simple preparations to help avoid encountering difficulties whilst abroad.

"Acquiring adequate travel insurance is a must and health scares abroad can be avoided by visiting a GP and having a health check before embarking on a holiday."

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