Who would have thought a drink or two after work would actually extend your life?  A fascinating article done by Time magazine, suggests that those who abstain from alcohol with no previous intake of alcohol, may have a shorter mortality rate than those who are heavy drinkers and moderate drinkers.  Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, led by psychologist Charles Holahan, found that over a 20-year period, the highest mortality rates were from those who had never been drinkers, second-highest were those of the heavy drinkers and the lowest  rate were the moderate drinkers.

The individuals in the study ranged between the ages of 55 and 65 who had outpatient care in the years before. There were 1,824 participants who were followed for 20 years. However, there were more men than women. The findings were astonishing, more than 69% of the never-drinkers died, 60% of the heavy drinkers died and only 41% of moderate drinkers died during the 20 years.

There is one reason that may coincide with why non-drinkers have shorter life-span than drinkers, alcohol has a strong connection with social interactions, in return socializing is important for maintaining mental and physical health.  Many non-drinkers may find themselves juggling the stresses of life in balancing work life and home life, and have little to no time interacting with others to obtain a sense of relief.

Another indication could be that non-drinkers are prone to depression than those who do drink.  A study done by the Journal of Addiction, formed by Jens Christoffer Skogen of the University of Bergen in Norway, asked the 38,000 participants how much they had to drink two weeks prior to the study; the team compiled an array of questions to find their levels of anxiety and depression. They found that the drinkers had a high level of anxiety, but the non-drinkers had a higher risk of depression. A reason, as the study may suggest, is that most of the non-drinkers had chronic illnesses such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, making them abstain from alcohol consumption. Also, the study indicates that the non-drinkers had fewer friends than those who do drink.

Although it may seem like drinking may promote a longer life, it can be quite dangerous. I believe the whole premise of both articles is to promote a social lifestyle. Life can be stressful, it is important to take some time away from your day to day activities and relax. Engaging in some social activities such as art festivals, and sporting events can make life a bit more fulfilling. Perhaps you can find a delightful conversation with a person whom you never met before.