Several European newspapers have had stories this week about a new German study which says that older people who are “heavy drinkers” are leaner, healthier, and have a better quality of life. Here’s a version of the story in a Scottish newspaper: “Heavy drinking over-60s have a better quality of life says new study.”
Is this too good to be true? This also comes along during a time in which I’ve been making an effort to drink less because of my age.
My guess is that — as doctors point out in the story — it’s not a causal relationship. That is, it’s not that drinking more causes older people to be leaner, healthier, and to have a better quality of life. Rather, it seems more likely that older people who are healthy, more sociable, and who are not fussbudget old prudes are likely to drink more, and it does them no harm. The story quotes the author of the study: “One explanation may be that higher alcohol consumption may lead to elevated mood, enhanced sociability and reduced stress.”
That makes a lot of sense to me. Now I think I’ll go make the first margarita I’ve ever made in my life, if that can be done with gin.
Update: Gin, lemon juice, and Cointreau, because that’s what I had. I don’t know if it was a margarita, but it was good.
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Whenever my wife and I go out to a meal (lunch or dinner)not very often over the last 2 years – we always order a Vodka Martini; one with olives and the other with a lime twist – delish
Margarita is usually Tequila and the rest
Hi Henry: My niece from Florida was here, and she loves margaritas. So I got some proper margarita-makings. So good!
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