In assessing a retired man who drinks regularly but believes he is healthy, which aspect suggests a risk for alcohol abuse?

The aspect that suggests a risk for alcohol abuse is tolerance for alcohol. Tolerance occurs when a person requires increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to achieve the same effects that they previously experienced with smaller amounts. This can be a key indicator of developing alcohol dependence or abuse. As tolerance builds, individuals may consume alcohol more frequently or in larger quantities, which can lead to negative health consequences and further dependency.

While previous work stress, family history of drinking, and diet and lifestyle choices are important factors to consider in a comprehensive assessment of an individual's health and potential for substance use issues, they do not provide as direct an indication of current alcohol abuse risk as tolerance does. Tolerance specifically reflects how the body is adapting to the presence of alcohol, making it a critical marker in identifying possible abuse patterns.