Couples with similar drinking habits more likely to go the distance

A new study led by the University of Michigan found that partners who drink as frequently as each other are likely to be happier, and even live longer.

According to new research published in The Gerontologist, couples who drink together have better relationships and a higher life expectancy.

Based on interviews with more than 4,500 married or cohabiting couples over the space of 20 years, the study found that couples in which both people had drunk alcohol within the last three months were more likely to live a longer life (by three months) than couples in which neither person had drunk alcohol in the last few months, or one person in the relationship had drunk alcohol while the other had not.

“We don’t know why both partners drinking is associated with better survival,” Dr. Kira Birditt, the study’s lead author, said.

The research team would like to delve deeper to understand, in Birditt’s words: “What are their daily lives like? Are they drinking together? What are they doing when they are drinking?”

However, Birditt offered up one line of reasoning to suggest why people who drink as often as their spouse, tend to be happier.

“Couples who drink together tend to have better relationship quality, and it might be because it increases intimacy,” she purported.

She caveated the findings by saying: “Behaviours that are good for marriage are not necessarily good for health.”

“Future research should assess the implications of couple drinking patterns for daily marital quality, and daily physical health outcomes,” Birditt said.

The interviews took place every two years with couples aged 50 years and older as part of a wider Health and Retirement study.