You may enjoy a drink of alcohol now and then, but drinking too much can be harmful for older adults. The aging process changes how the body handles alcohol. Alcohol can also interact with your medications, resulting in physical problems.

Questions to Ask
If you answer yes to one of these questions, you may want to talk with your doctor.

• Do you typically have more than one drink per day?
• Have you ever felt like you should drink less?
• Do you drink because you feel sad?
• Have you hurt yourself or someone else while drinking?
• Have you felt guilty or lied about your drinking?
• Do you feel as if you need a drink first thing in the day?
• Are you annoyed when others criticize your drinking?

Help Is Available
You may be able to keep your drinking under control with the help of a counselor or other local resources. Ask your doctor for a referral.