Research suggests that couples who drink together may in fact live longer. A study conducted every two years over two decades involving more than 4500 married or cohabiting couples came up with this remarkable finding. US scientists discovered that couples tend to live longer if they both drink alcohol. The study was broad based examining whether or not a participant had consumed an alcoholic beverage within the last three months. The research carried out by the University of Michigan found that when two individuals have similar drinking behaviours it may be a reflection of compatibility in their lifestyles, intimacy and relationship satisfaction.
Dr Kira Birditt a research professor at the university said 'we've also found in other studies that couples who drink together tend to have better relationship quality, and it might be because it increases intimacy'. There was a caution however against using their findings as a reason to drink more with your partner. The study was published in The Gerontologist Journal and also gave mention that light drinking was linked to better survival rates compared to heavy drinking.
So with this in mind you and your loved one can also capitalise on another study which matched wines to moments in peoples lives. 2,000 wine buffs came up with the ideal match for occasions - rather than what's on the menu. After a long day at work Pinot Grigio came up as the best wine to unwind with. A medium bodied Rioja was suggested as the ideal choice when binge watching TV. Try a gently spiced Merlot when relaxing in a hot bath. If you unfortunately have to comfort a friend or relative after a messy break-up a full bodied fruity Chenin Blanc would fit the bill best. The study was commissioned by Aldi. Wine expert Sam Caporn said 'pairing wine with life events makes sense'. adding 'all grape varieties have characteristics that work better with certain moods'.
