Reasons for drinking, and past and present drinking patterns among the elderly in rural Arizona were examined. Interviews were conducted with 444 individuals (219 women) aged 65 +. Responses to a list of 20 reasons for drinking wee divided into six groups: social, mood change, food, health, personal coping and interpersonal coping. Respondents were grouped into categories on the basis of their quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption--abstainers, light drinkers, moderate drinkers or heavy drinkers. Approximately 80% of the positive responses were for the more acceptable reasons; only 12% indicated a positive response to one or more of the coping reasons. Light, moderate and heavy drinkers wee differentiated according to reasons for drinking, as were the various age groupings. Findings indicated that the rural elderly's alcohol use is generally at an acceptable level and style, that alcohol use diminishes with age, and that drinking patterns and reasons generally remain consistent into old age.