August 31, 2010 10:14 AM

Heavy Drinkers Outlive Non-Drinkers: Cheers to That

By
Neil Katz
Topics
News ,
Food and Drink ,
Research

woman drinking beer, generic, stock

Will she live longer because of this beer? (istockphoto)


(CBS) Drink up... that is if you want to live a few years longer.

That's the highly unusual conclusion of a new study which suggests that non-drinkers die sooner than heavy drinkers. Moderate drinkers fair the best.

The paper, which appears in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, took a look at 1,824 participants over 20 years, according to Time.com. Sixty-three percent of them were men.

Scientists, led by psychologist Charles Holahan of the University of Texas at Austin, filtered out "socioeconomic status, level of physical activity, number of close friends, quality of social support," according to the site, and still found that nondrinkers just don't live as long as their drinking compatriots. Over the 20-year period, 69 percent of the nondrinkers died, 60 percent of the heavy drinkers died and only 41 percent of the moderate drinkers died.

Moderate drinking, according to Time, was defined as one to three drinks per day.

The findings are certainly confusing, since heavy drinking can lead to liver failure, mouth cancer and heart problems. And being a drunk can ruin friendships, career and family.

Still, as odd as it may seem, the old saying, "drink to your health," may be wise after all.

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Add a Comment See all 94 Comments
by commyt September 22, 2010 1:28 PM EDT
Here's to you and here's to me,
May we never disagree.
But if we do,
The hell with you,
Here's to me!

"cheers"
Reply to this comment
by TomColt September 5, 2010 11:17 AM EDT
Driving after drinking is at least as stupid as phoning/texting while driving, and if you accept the statistical proof, a lot worse. That's what the study is about - statistical proofs. Notice though, how many people selectively accept what must be true versus what is obviously false to them, despite reputable science.

Those "Christians" who put distilleries into the same category as illicit drugs are most confusing to me. Never heard of the miracle at Cana. Or, they invent some rationalization to deny parts of their own religion. What a dangerously hypocritical logic!
Reply to this comment
by gig76 September 3, 2010 9:13 PM EDT
My mother has not ever had a drink in her life and she is over 85 years old. My dad drank wine in his early 20s then quit at the age of 24. He is now over 90. So, what about these types of folks who are still living well into their late 80s, 90s? My grandmother didn't drink but had a heart attack at the age of 80 then lived to be almost 100 years of age. This outcome makes us wonder who funded this study. It's apparently skewed or biased.
Reply to this comment
by gig76 September 3, 2010 9:06 PM EDT
We'll take our chances and not drink. We really don't care to give to distillers but to our church and charities first. We do cook with special liquors for special holiday pastries. Otherwise, no, we don't indulge. Having a faith that doesn't believe in drinking, doesn't approve of tobacco products, we put more time into exercise, environment, keeping our blood pressure in check, cholesterol levels down, and use legal herbs to keep our blood thinned. And we have friends who we visit and attend events with therefore, we are good without alcohol and illicit drugs.
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by Noval53 September 2, 2010 5:47 AM EDT
I wonder if this goof ball scientific study (MAD Science), takes in to consideration all the innocent non-drinkers that are killed by heavy drinking morons driving while drunk. How many countless thousands have died because a heavy drinking fool decided to drive? There is no "cheers" to that. What a stupid report.
Reply to this comment
by Generalist3001 September 2, 2010 2:12 AM EDT
Check the actual study for some of the interesting details.

For example, they did NOT include life long abstainers in the study. And oddly enough, a significant number of the 'abstainers' had prior drinking problems as well as other health problems.

These facts were mentioned in the study but NOT mentioned in the article.
Reply to this comment
by ohcalcutagirl September 1, 2010 10:32 PM EDT
eat DRINK and be marry
Reply to this comment
by croft777 September 1, 2010 9:48 PM EDT
Like it says , "do everything in moderation." I really do not think it has anything to do with how much one drinks or if they even drink at all, genes play a big part in your life span. I know of an old couple who each smoked 4 packs of cigeretes a day since they were teens, strange as it may seem, they lived a long life without health issues. I personally don't care what other people choose to do, I drink only once in a blue moon, whether its a couple of drinks or until I'm toasted, I pay for it many days or a week later. So, I am less then moderate. I don't like hangovers and even if I were to have a couple of beers, I would feel like a mac truck hit me the next day.I'd rather watch others getting drunk and acting like fools.
Reply to this comment
by gruven13777 September 1, 2010 9:04 PM EDT
Last time I checked, alcohol still kills brain cells.
Reply to this comment
by P0ST1ING_AWAY September 1, 2010 7:00 PM EDT
by Myopinion046 September 1, 2010 3:55 PM EDT
This couldn't be more obviously untrue. One expects an overwhelmingly liberal discipline that sees no problem with undermining the credibility of their discipline by politicizing it to support such. Such can only lead to more DUIs and Detox Center deaths due to blood toxicity. Shame on them.
========================================
You idiot.
This has nothing to do with Liberal vs Tea-Bag-Bozos.

The story is a complete crock.
You can email my brother as to what the pros and cons of heavy
drinking are ... just do not expect a quick response.
He is dead right now ... from GUESS WHAT ???
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