and I always thought that it was because we spend so much time in pubs, the risk of being run over is reduced. more seriously Europeans had to drink gin and tonic in the tropics to stave off malaria. The fact that the quinine was in the tonic does not adequately explain why they drank gin but at any rate they presumably lived longer than the lower socio- economic classes (referred to in the link) who apparently cannot afford to drink and therefore died of malaria

strangely in the link as poeple who do not drink because they cannot afford to 

why do pickled gurkins last longer than cucumbers? cos of the "pickling"...duh"

all the best from pickled charlie

I don't doubt the research results. But keep in mind the research talks about heavy-drinks, who are most likely to spend their extra years doing this with their time:

No -I think he is suffering from malaria or at least some other tropical disease.  

he's a lightweight.....

eating is cheating... everyone knows that... and is just asking for a "bouncy kebab" after 15 pints...

or an allergy to prawns

going with your previous offering of tropical disease. the outline of his partially ingested dinner clearly marks out a pineapple.. 

prawn allergies involve physically adopting a prawn-like shape next to a toilet. or so i hear...

I blame the chilli sauce myself.... if he'd asked for the "super ferkin hot strength with extra jalapenos" like every proper drunk, then his throat would have siezed up due to chilli overdose and the excess liquid would never have managed to escape upwards! 

Amateur mistake...

(also barfing on your own shorts and feet... tut, schoolboy error)

actually on closer (zoom view) inspection...l'm never eating refried beans again....^

<burp>

Nice try buddy. Afterwork drinks anyone? ;)

nondrinkers show greater signs of depression than those who allow themselves to join the party.

That's because being around drunks when you're sober is really boring :-). Who wouldn't be depressed being surrounded by the superficiality of drunk conversations? 

On a more serious notes there is too much information missing. What other variables are explored in the original report? 

Fact remains that non drinkers are more depressed, regardless of the reason.

And you are asking a bunch of drunks about variables?! Boy, you really could use a drink ;)

The only superficial conversations I remember (and there are many) are those that took place when I was sober.  Have no idea if any took place when I was drunk.  Back on the report it doesn't mention how the people died.  Did the depressed non drinkers commit suicide, were the heavy drinkers run over while crossing the road to have yet another superficial conversation? What is the most boring moment of my life.  When somebody approaches me the next morning and says: You remember that conversation we had last night.....

I'm assuming you're not drunk right now... and I'd have a drink, but not alone, not at home. May be out tomorrow and Thursday as I'm working late shifts this week. 

I am never drunk - just occasionally superficially communicative.  If I were drunk i would forget to remove my best clothes before partaking of the sport pictured in post 2

For those of you who are not Country Music lovers, Brad answered this long time ago!

Concerning health habits, it is worth noting that Japanese people eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Americans.  On the other hand, the French eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British.

The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or the Americans.  The French drink a lot of red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or the Americans.

The logical conclusion is that you should eat and drink what you like: It’s speaking English that kills you.

or mixing Sushi with red wine also could be the new health boom.....