People who drink alcohol outlive those who abstain, study shows

Belfast Telegraph ^ | 11 December 2013

[Elle Bee]

would you really expect anything else from an Irish newspaper?

.

[Doogle]

"...and da ...and da..*hiccup*...an da da da ..*hiccup* dog hooo....an da dog who rode you err"

[zeestephen]

The positive health impact of moderate, and even heavy, drinking has been known for many decades.

I am skeptical about one thing, though.

I’m a teetotaler because I don’t like the taste of alcohol, I have to repress a gag reflex when I swallow it, and I feel nauseous when it arrives in my stomach.

In my opinion, when someone has that many negative reactions to alcohol, my body is clearly saying, “Don’t Drink It, Stupid!”

[Sivad]

So, who here is not too proud to pick the low hanging fruit?

[Olog-hai]

Not everyone can drink. Some people are actually allergic to ethanol.

[zeestephen]

Statistically, the most reliable indicator of long life is to be male and have a long lived older brother.

Interesting, because my Dad just died at age 92, and his older brother, my uncle, is still alive at 94.

My older brother is 67 and in excellent health, so I’m hoping this statistical trend continues.

[Lmo56]

Foster Brooks had it right ...

[iowamark]

Many alcoholics consider themselves “moderate” drinkers. When they hear 1-3 drinks, they think of 8 ounces of liquor as a drink.

[zeestephen]

[Bullish]

I’ll drink to that.

[Bullish]

I’m a teetotaler because I don’t like the taste of alcohol, I have to repress a gag reflex when I swallow it, and I feel nauseous when it arrives in my stomach.

You and I wouldn't get along much.

:)

[Vendome]

I think that may be true.

My grandfather was an alcoholic and died at the young age of 86 years.

My real father is 70 and a champion alcoholic. For breakfast he has Kahlua, vodka and coffee. He packs his thermos with coffee and bourbon or vodka.

He ends his evening with a few more drinks on the rocks.

Don’t know how he does it. I sure as heck don’t have the ability to operate like that.

We’re Irish and Scottish so maybe there is a genetic immunity?

Blech!

[Vendome]

ROTFLMAO!!!

Purr lil feller...

[Vendome]

Pretty much...

[Vendome]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

I have a friend who tells me I should watch my health. She is always following the next “health” fad and shiny object.

I remind her of the age my family members die at, including my grandma who passed at 103.

She reminds me of my Uncle, who died at 48.

I usually laugh and remind her there really isn’t much your gonna do to escape that biotch, who visits you in a scary hooded robe and a scythe. Oarticularly when you slam headon into the side of a semi truck at 50 mph and compound that tragedy by not wearing a helmet.

Besides, we generally die of old age.

So, I don’t take life seriously. No one gets out of this thing alive anyway.

[Vendome]

He sure knew what key to play...

[Vendome]

8 ounces is an apertif.

[GreenHornet]

Research published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research found those who did not consume any alcohol appeared to have a higher mortality rate, regardless of whether they were former heavy drinkers or not, than those who drank heavily.

I thought both groups had the same mortality rate: 100%.

[Madame Dufarge]

There was a scene in Postcards from the Edge where Meryl Streep walked in on her mother, played by Shirley MacLaine, mixing up a morning health smoothie, topped off by a generous helping of vodka.

When confronted, MacLaine said something like, "I used to be an alcoholic, now I just drink like an Irish person."

My Scots-Irish mother and I got a big laugh out of that one. :-)