Man aged 107 says the secret to long life is ‘popcorn and a beer’

New Zealand’s oldest man has revealed that the secret to his long life is largely down to regularly enjoying “popcorn and a beer”.

The World War II veteran, named Jack Coe, was born on the 11 May 1916 and was formerly stationed in New Caledonia defending an American airforce base before he returned to New Zealand to partake in a medley of his favourite things – beer and popcorn featuring highly on the list.

In a report via the Daily Mail, Coe divulged that enjoying what you love is essentially the real secret to living a long life and admitted that in his case it was simply “caramel popcorn and a beer” as the answer.

Coe celebrated his 107th birthday yesterday together with his family and was presented with an aptly-themed caramel-popcorn birthday cake to mark the occasion. He revealed that, since the war, he has in Bulls, a small town in New Zealand between Whanganui and Palmerston North, where he built a home to share with his wife Thora in 1950 and their two children.

Although Coe did not divulge his favourite beer brand or style, his preferences for what he liked hinted that finding pleasure in the things that you enjoy could be the answer to living a long and happy life as well as noting that his hobbies, included fishing, was also something that has kept him happy and limber over the years.

The 107 year old veteran also revealed how he had formerly run a painting and decorating business before retiring over 40 years ago when he was 64 and added that he had continued to fish until his 100th birthday.