Alcohol drinkers feel healthier than teetotallers

People who drink alcohol feel healthier than those who are teetotal, according to the latest survey on the nation's drinking habits.

The research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that people who consumed alcohol believed they were ill less often than those who didn't drink at all.

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association, (FLVA), agreed with the survey's findings. He said that drinking in moderation could be good for people's health.

"People go to the pub for a pint or a drink and they wind down from their day's work in a relaxed atmosphere," Mr Payne said.

"If they don't go to the pub, they may sit at home and worry about their day at work, but if they do go out for a drink they will often find other people to talk to and forget about their troubles."

People who earn more, smokers and people with physically demanding jobs tended to drink more than others, the research found.

But, leading scientist Dr Fernando Rodrigues-Artalego of the Department of Preventative Medicine and Public Health at Autonoma University in Madrid, said this research should not be used as an excuse to drink to excess.

And a spokeswoman for Alcohol Concern said that people who drink alcohol might only feel healthier than those that don't because "the negative effects of alcohol are long term".

"While there were some health benefits for drinking in moderation, people should not drink more than the recommended daily amounts of four units for men and one unit for women," she added.