Your health! The benefits of social drinking

Oxford: New research, which shows that moderate alcohol consumption with friends at a local pub may be linked to improved wellbeing, has been published in the journal Adaptive Human Behaviour and Physiology. While most studies warn of the health risks of alcohol consumption, researchers at the University of Oxford have looked at whether having a drink may play a role in improving social cohesion, given its long association with human social activities. Combining data from three separate studies - a questionnaire-based study of pub clientele, observing conversational behaviour in pubs, and a national survey by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) – the researchers looked at whether the frequency of alcohol consumption or the type of venue affected peoples’ social experiences and wellbeing.

Being merry in your old age could help you live longer

Scimex: Sustained enjoyment of life over several years in older age is associated with lower mortality, finds a study in the Christmas issue of The BMJ. The longer an individual reports enjoying life, the lower their risk of death, the findings show. Previous studies have shown that subjective wellbeing (feelings of enjoyment and satisfaction with life) is associated with greater longevity, but they measured wellbeing on a single occasion, and the importance of sustained wellbeing is not known.