High-risk alcohol consumption and late-life alcohol use problems

Objectives. We used several different guidelines for appropriate alcohol use to identify patterns of high-risk alcohol consumption among older women and men and examined associations between these patterns and late-life alcohol use problems. Methods. A sample of 1291 older adults participated in a survey of alcohol consumption and alcohol use problems and was studied again 10 years later. Results. Depending on the guideline, 23% to 50% of women and 29% to 45% of men engaged in potentially unsafe alcohol use patterns. The likelihood of risky alcohol use declined over the 10 years; however, the numbers of drinks consumed per week and per day were associated with alcohol use problems at both assessment intervals. Conclusion. Our findings imply that guidelines for alcohol consumption should be no more liberal for older men than for older women.