(WP) - I typically have a second glass of wine when I’m out to dinner, either at a friend’s house or a restaurant. But as I get older, I may need to reconsider that practice.

That’s because as we age, our bodies react to alcohol differently. As a result, guidelines from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism are more restrictive for older people than those for younger adults.

“Because of changes in normal aging, we become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol,” says Alison Moore, a UCLA geriatrician who researches drinking behaviors in older adults.

For men in general, the NIAAA recommends no more than 14 drinks per week and no more than four drinks on a given day. For women, the numbers are seven and three. For people older than 65 who are healthy and don’t take medications, the NIAAA guidelines say no more than seven drinks per weekand no more than three drinks on any one day. (One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor. )

If seniors drink more than that, Moore says, they put themselves at increased risk for alcohol-related problems. This may mean thinking less clearly, forgetting things and falling. Even subtle impairments can interfere with normal activities such as cooking and remembering to take medications.