While there appears to be a rising incidence of problem drinking in the elderly, there are also reports that low risk drinking may provide benefits to older populations. Indeed. arguably most of the supposed benefits of alcohol consumption are to be found in older people. So, for example, the claimed protective effect of alcohol in regard to cardiovascular disease applies to the late middle aged and elderly. For this reason, the recommended optimum level of alcohol consumption for health is higher for the elderly than the young. (See IAS factsheet Alcohol – what is problem drinking?) As well as medical benefits, there are also reports that low.
