Daily tipple ‘helps women age better’

Researchers have found that moderate alcohol consumption helps middle-aged women age better.

Total intakes of between 15.1 and 30 grams of alcohol a day – as much as two shots of spirits or nearly three small glasses of wine –improved the odds of “successful ageing” by 28 per cent.

The scientists defined “successful ageing” as living to at least 70, being free of cancer, heart conditions and other chronic diseases, and suffering no significant mental or physical impairment.

Women who drank alcohol regularly throughout the week, rather than on a single occasion, benefited most.

Those who had an alcoholic drink five to seven days a week were almost 50 per cent more likely to enjoy good health in old age than non-drinkers.

The findings emerged from a major American health and lifestyle study involving 14,000 female nurses. All were participants in the US Nurses Health Study, launched in 1976.

The researchers assigned 13.2 grams of alcohol to one bottle of beer, 10.8 grams to one 118 millilitre glass of wine, and 15.1 grams to a single shot of spirits.

Successful ageing was judged on a range of criteria relating to health history.