Most of us associate drinking, especially binge drinking, with the younger generation. While these rates are lower than ones in recent surveys of college students, they may be more dangerous because the elderly are more vulnerable to alcohol-induced conditions ranging from delirium to low blood pressure, and they are more likely to be taking drugs that can be harmful when mixed with alcohol. Binge drinking is usually described as five or more alcoholic beverages at one sitting. Since older people tend to have less lean body mass and less water content in their bodies to dilute the alcohol, it typically takes less to raise their blood-alcohol level. Three or four drinks at one time is considered binging for this group.
Older people drink for the same reasons that young people do - stress and depression.
But, because older drinkers tend to be more subtle than younger drinkers, it can be difficult to identify them. To complicate the matter, many of the symptoms of alcoholism are problems typically associated with aging, such as insomnia and poor concentration. If you suspect that an older family member has a drinking problem, look for additional signs of alcoholism. If possible, encourage the elderly drinker to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting of people their own age. Falls can have unfortunate results beyond the actual physical injury.