Couples Who Drink Together, Live Longer Together

A recent study from the University of Michigan, published in February in The Gerontologist, has revealed that couples who share similar drinking habits tend not only to stay together longer but also to live longer lives. The research highlights that when both partners drink moderately, significant health and longevity benefits can be observed.

Previous studies have indicated that couples with similar drinking habits report higher quality and more durable marriages compared to those with disparate drinking habits. However, it was not clear until now whether these shared habits also brought health benefits. This new study is the first to establish a direct connection between shared drinking habits and a longer, healthier life.

The study analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative study that has interviewed individuals over 50 every two years since 1996. Researchers examined nearly 10,000 individuals over 50 in opposite-sex couples who were either married or cohabitating. By comparing the drinking habits of these couples with mortality rates over time, the authors found clear benefits in concordant drinking behaviors.

Specifically, couples who reported that both members had drunk in the past three months lived longer than couples where neither drank or only one did. Light to moderate alcohol consumption, defined in the study as eight drinks per week or fewer, proved to be better than both heavy drinking and abstinence. The benefits were greater in couples where both members drank a similar amount, with this effect being particularly notable in women. Couples where one member drank and the other did not had the worst survival rates.

These findings surprised the researchers, who had initially hypothesized that couples with matching drinking patterns would have higher mortality rates, especially in men. This prediction was based on a 2022 study by the same team that linked shared drinking habits in couples to higher blood pressure, particularly in men.

The authors emphasize the focus of the study on older adults, who may be especially susceptible to the harmful effects of alcohol, particularly in relation to medication interactions and certain diseases. However, older adults can also benefit from the protective effects of alcohol, especially against frailty and cardiovascular diseases.

Other studies have found that light to moderate alcohol consumption can improve socialization and mental and emotional well-being, which in turn can benefit relationships. The authors note that "as couples age, spouses or partners may become more interested in having compatible drinking behaviors that enhance their relationship, which in turn can benefit their health as they age."

Despite the results, the researchers acknowledge certain limitations. Although they controlled for variables such as race, education level, and chronic health conditions, other factors could have influenced the results, which do not establish causality. They also caution that while "concordant drinking status is associated with better health... higher levels of alcohol consumption can still be harmful."

The study did not differentiate between types of alcohol and relied on self-reported alcohol consumption. It also did not examine same-sex couples or what activities individuals engaged in while drinking, whether they drank together or separately. The authors suggest the need for further research. "Future research should examine links between couples' drinking patterns and daily health and marital processes, as well as daily accounts of activities and whether couples drink alone or with others."