The proceedings of the Congressional hearing on alcohol and the elderly are presented. Following introductory statements by the committee chairman, Senator Claude Pepper, and Representatives Mario Biaggi and Geraldine Ferraro, the briefing paper, "Crisis in Health Care Part 2: Alcoholism," prepared by the subcommittee staff is presented. Issues addressed include demographics, the dimensions of the problem, alcoholism and aging, treatment, medicaid and medicare funding, and adequacy of current resources. Statements of witnesses are provided including those of Jason Robards; Bishop Sullivan, head of Catholic Charities for Brooklyn; Helen Hernandez, from Embassy Tandem Communications; a panel representing the Manhattan Bowery Corporation; a panel representing the New York City Committee on Women and Alcohol; a panel representing Substance Abuse Services and the Research Institute on Alcoholism; and Don Nicholson, from the Department of Health and Human Services. Topics covered include advertising, the alcoholic personality, community issues and efforts, the entertainment industry's role in social issues, health needs, treatment programs, psychosocial aspects of alcoholism, sex differences, drug abuse and drug/alcohol interactions, alcohol-related problems, and medicare coverage for treatment programs. (BL)