Moderate alcohol consumption and unappreciated risk for alcohol-related harm among ethnically diverse, urban-dwelling elders.

The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to gather data describing how older adults define moderate alcohol consumption and how they have interpreted media reports of the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Results showed that many older adults define moderate alcohol use at levels above Federal guidelines, and a notable number of older adults agree that moderate use is good for health. The disparity between older adults' definition of moderate drinking and Federal guidelines for low-risk drinking may contribute to the underrecognition of problem drinking by nurses and other health care providers and place older adults at an unappreciated level of risk for alcohol-related harm.