A new study published in The Gerontologist indicates that couples who drink alcohol together tend to live longer.
It is important to note now that this result does not constitute an incentive to increase your alcohol consumption, which is recognized by numerous studies as dangerous for health.
Alcohol and longevity: 4,656 couples studied
The study used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults ages 50 and older. Researchers specifically focused on married or cohabiting couples. The sample included 4,656 couples, or 9,312 people who had participated in at least three waves of the survey between 1996 and 2016.
The scientists classified the participants into two main categories: drinkers and non-drinkers. The researchers then categorized the couples based on their drinking behaviors: “both drinking”, “both abstaining”, Or “discordant” if one drank and the other didn't.
To assess the impact of these drinking habits on longevity, the scientists analyzed the survival rates of individuals within these couples through 2016. The analysis took into account various potential confounding factors that could to influence outcomes, such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and underlying health conditions.
Alcohol: higher survival rate among couples who drink together
Researchers found that couples with similar drinking behaviors — where both partners drink or abstain from drinking — had a higher survival rate than couples with different drinking habits. Interestingly, this effect was more pronounced in couples where both partners drank than in those where both abstained.
Couples in which one partner drank and the other did not had the least favorable survival outcomes. This trend suggests that beyond the physiological effects of alcohol itself, lifestyle compatibility and harmony within the relationship could significantly influence health outcomes. For example, couples who drink together may engage in more joint activities and thus be more satisfied with their relationship, which could have a positive effect on their health.