⊙ The level of alcohol consumption with the lowest health risk is zero.
⊙ The health of older persons who continue to consume alcohol would be improved by reducing their consumption.
⊙ Those older people who don’t consume alcohol or who consume alcohol infrequently should not begin to consume alcohol, reinitiate alcohol use, or consume alcohol more frequently to achieve claimed health benefits.
⊙ Even consuming low amounts of alcohol can add to the health and safety risks already present during later life.
⊙ Zero alcohol consumption is generally preferable among older people with liver disease, peptic ulcer disease, who take psychoactive or sedating medications, are driving, have cognitive difficulties, a history of falls or poor balance or cardiac arrhythmias.
