A study by a British market-research firm found that people in their 30s and 40s were more likely to admit drinking too much alcohol than those in their 20s, the BBC reported Dec. 20.

The YouGov survey found that one in three people ages 30-50 said that they had a night ruined by excessive drinking within the past year, and 44 percent said they still don't make a habit of following moderate-drinking recommendations. The former finding may partly be explained by the fact that the body copes more poorly with alcohol consumption as it ages.

"As a person gets older, less body water and more fat in the system means alcohol stays in the blood stream for longer, which helps explain why people often experience the effects of heavy drinking more than they might have done if younger," noted a spokesperson for the group Alcohol Concern.

 "This research shows that binge drinking and hangovers are not just a problem for younger drinkers," added Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance.