Partly because consumption generally decreases with age, little attention has been given to the minimum of older people who continue to misuse alcohol. In England and Wales at present, half a million men and a quarter of a million women over 65 are drinking over recommended limits and population trends mean that this figure will increase as the number of older people grows. Older people are more vulnerable to alcohol in a range of ways. Because of this, they are likely to experience problems at lower levels of consumption. With age the liver and kidneys become less efficient at metabolising alcohol, heightening some of alcohol's more harmful effects.
Alcohol slows reactions, weakens judgement, balance and self-control.
Among older people this adds to the risk of falls and accidents. Prescribed drugs and alcohol Of particular concern is the increased likelihood of older people mixing alcohol with prescribed drugs. The elderly are major consumers of drugs, many of which do not mix well with alcohol. Drugs for rheumatism and arthritis, thrombosis, pain and general infection may also cause health problems when alcohol is consumed, while drugs for depression may cause psychological problems. More specific physical symptoms, such as increased mean corpuscular volume and raised levels of certain enzymes in the blood can be attributed to other conditions.