Research issues concerning alcohol consumption among aging populations.

Research concerning alcohol consumption by the elderly has primarily focused on the extent of problem drinking among seniors. Although an important research agenda, an exclusive concern with problem drinking rates can work to obscure interesting health policy and theoretical questions which might be addressed through the study of drinking practices of older age strata. Primary among these is the study of how alcohol use patterns change across the life course, with the goal of showing how such lifelong drinking patterns influence consumption in old age. The literature concerning alcohol use and aging is reviewed to highlight reasons for change and stability in alcohol consumption during latter half of life. From this literature seven hypotheses, amenable to empirical testing, are identified for ongoing research.