Older adults have increased sensitivity to the effects of alcohol (Vestal et al., 1977). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommends that men and women ages 65+ limit consumption to no more than 3 drinks on any day and 7 drinks per week, with the caveat that some individuals may need to drink less or not at all depending on their health and how they are affected by alcohol (NIAAA, 2016). Drinking even within recommended limits may heighten older adults’ risk for unintentional injuries including falls and motor vehicle accidents. The majority of older drinkers take one or more prescription medications (Breslow et al., 2015). Harmful interactions between alcohol and certain prescription medications may further increase their risk for unintentional injuries, toxic reactions, and fatal overdoses (Breslow et al., 2015; Castle et al., 2016; Moore et al., 2007).
