Thread: Cocktails For Life

...if just a little alcohol is beneficial, imagine how an increased dosage could improve old age! Actually, the empiricists among us have already risen to the challenge:

Aging: Health Gains From a Small Drink a Day

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR (NYT)

Published: September 19, 2011

Middle-aged women who have an alcoholic drink every day may increase their chances of enjoying health in their old age, according to a new report.

Researchers at Harvard followed 13,894 women with a median age of 58 for an average of 16 years, tracking their alcohol consumption and assessing how well they aged. The scientists defined successful aging as being free of 11 major chronic illnesses and having no major cognitive or physical impairments after age 70.

After controlling for numerous health, educational and family history factors, the researchers found that women who drank one-half to one ounce of alcohol a day were 28 percent more likely than nondrinkers to achieve successful aging. Those who drank throughout the week rather than on a single occasion were also more likely to be healthy in old age.

So is alcohol health food? No, according to the lead author, Dr. Qi Sun, an instructor in medicine at Harvard. “I would never recommend that nondrinkers start drinking with the thought of improving their health,” he said. “Physical activity and healthy body weight are much stronger predictors of successful aging than alcohol consumption.”

The study appears in the September issue of PLoS Medicine.

willie nelson sez there are more old drunks than there are old doctors.
maybe he was on to something.

The Brits say 14 units a week; a unit is a pint (20oz.) of ale. I figure twice that amount is far more reasonable in the real life.
Works for me...

here ya go...

George Jones & Willie Nelson - I Gotta Get Drunk - YouTube