Moderate drinkers tend to live longer, studies show

People who abstain from drinking live shorter lives on average than those who drink moderately or heavily, according to a new study.

The research was performed by a six-member team led by psychologist Charles Holohan of the University of Texas at Austin and was published in the journal "Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research."

Moderate drinkers were found to have the longest life expectancy followed by heavy drinkers.

Those who did not drink at all in the study were found to have the shortest life expectancy, the study said.

However, Karen G. Anderson, associate professor of psychology at West Virginia University who did not participate in the study, believes it may have exaggerated the extent to which alcohol can increase lifespan.

"This research highlights a potential confound of including former problem drinkers who abstained later in life in studies that group all ‘abstainers' together," she said.

The study followed 1,824 individuals between the ages of 55 and 65 for 20 years and found that:

69 percent of non-drinkers died during the period.

60 percent of heavy drinkers died during the period.

41 percent of moderate drinkers died during the period.

Moderate drinkers are defined as people who have one to two drinks per day whereas heavy drinkers have three or more drinks a day, according to the study.

The results suggest that the extent to which alcohol can increase longevity may have been overestimated in previous reports, Anderson said.

When certain aspects of the study were controlled though, there still were some health benefits related to alcohol, she pointed out.

Students at WVU showed mixed opinions on the results of the study.

"I think it will encourage a few students to explore new options," said Sam Weaver, a sophomore psychology major.

The study will also encourage students who already drink to continue to do so, Weaver said.

Rick Wright, a junior petroleum engineering major, disagreed saying it would not affect students' attitudes toward drinking.

"The reasons they have for not drinking in college usually isn't related to their health," Wright said.

Junior civil engineering

major Marcus Keller believes the study will encourage those who already drink to continue but not persuade those who don't to start.

"The people that don't drink in college usually focus on their studies," Keller said. "It gives those who already drink another reason to continue doing so."

Anderson added there are lots of things people can do for their health but does not suggest people take up drinking if they don't want to drink.

The study had unclear reasons as to why those who drank moderately had longer life spans.

"Even after taking account of traditional and nontraditional covariates, moderate alcohol consumption continued to show a beneficial effect in predicting mortality risk," the study stated.

The study controlled for socioeconomic status, level of physical activity, smoking and the number of close friends the participants had.