People who don’t drink are more likely to die younger

A study shows that regular drinkers are less likely to die prematurely than people who have never indulged in alcohol. Time reports that abstaining from alcohol altogether can actually lead to a shorter life than consistent, moderate drinking.

Surprised? The tightly controlled study, which looked at individuals between ages 55 and 65, spanned a 20-year period and accounted for variables ranging from socio-economic status to level of physical activity. Led by psychologist Charles Holahan of the University of Texas at Austin, it found that mortality rates were highest for those who never had a sip, lower for heavy drinkers, and lowest for moderate drinkers who enjoyed one to three drinks per day.

Of the 1,824 study participants, only 41 per cent of the moderate drinkers died prematurely compared to a whopping 69 per cent of the non-drinkers. Meanwhile, the heavy drinkers fared better than those who abstained, with a 60 per cent mortality rate. Despite the increased risks for cirrhosis and several types of cancer, not to mention dependency, accidents, and poor judgement associated with heavy drinking, those who imbibe are less likely to die than people who stay dry.

A possible explanation for this is that alcohol can be a great social lubricant and strong social networks are essential for maintaining mental and physical health. Non-drinkers have been shown to demonstrate greater signs of depression than their carousing counterparts, and in addition to the potential heart health and circulation benefits of moderate drinking (especially red wine), it also increases sociability.

While it’s always important to drink responsibly, this is one study that warrants raising a glass.

Finally! A clinic claims to have a hangover cure

Trying to find the perfect hangover cure is a hunt as elusive as that for the Holy Grail — but a clinic in Australia could finally have the answer.

The Hangover Clinic in Sydney claims that it can sort out sore heads in just half an hour — thanks to an effective combination of IV drips and vitamin cocktails.

But it comes at a price — with treatments starting at AU$140.

If you’re hoping for the full one-hour treatment, it’s AU$200 for two litres of hydration drip, vitamins and oxygen therapy.

Of course, greasy food is the cheaper option — but clinic founder Max Petro doesn’t recommend that. “Having intravenous fluids, that can have benefits”, he told 3News.