While research on alcohol use among the elderly has accumulated in recent years, the drinking patterns of some segments of the elderly population have received little or no attention. A study was conducted over an 18-month period investigating drinking patterns in three retirement communities in southern California and Oregon. The extent of alcohol use, the association between drinking and social isolation, and the association between drinking and social activity and religiosity were examined in 260 retirement community residents. Interviews were conducted to gather information on subjects' demographics, life satisfaction, social integration, and history and current pattern of alcohol consumption. Subjects were classified according to the quantity of their customary alcohol consumption. Data analysis revealed that drinking in the retirement community was widespread and that it was part of the residents' social behavior which was associated with high levels of social integration. No support was found for the hypothesis that social isolation and loneliness are associated with drinking. A negative correlation between an individual's religiosity and drinking was observed in all data analyses and was also found to be significant when comparing late onset heavy drinkers with long-term heavy drinkers. (Author/NB)