"SMOKING won't improve your mood, but the latest evidence from the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index confirms a daily tipple can make you happy.

The  index has found those who drink one or two glasses of alcohol every day are the happiest people.

Those who exercise up to three times a week also were relatively happy.

But those who never drank were among the most miserable, recording "below normal wellbeing".

Conducted by Deakin University's Australian Centre on the Quality of Life, the study found the benefits of moderate drinking were most evident for divorcees, sole parents, those engaged in full-time family care and people in the stressful middle years, from 36 to 65.

"The reason . . . could possibly be linked to coping," the researchers reported. "Middle age can be a stressful period of life when people are managing families, work and mortgages.

"Perhaps the consumption of alcohol during this time is an important coping strategy."

Centre director Professor Bob Cummins said drinkers might also be happier because they were more social.

"This probably indicates the role of alcohol to bring people together to socialise and share their lives a bit," he said.

"It can be a nice bonding thing with their partner at the end of the day to have a glass of wine over an evening meal."

For Brisbane graphic designer Alan Speirs, who enjoys an after-work drink with his wife most evenings, the research findings came as no surprise.

"I knew that," he said. "I've always said it. It justifies my few drinks every night. You generally feel a bit better and you're a bit more open to conversation."

The study found happiness levels declined for older drinkers who had more than three drinks in a session, but not for those aged 18 to 26.

Smokers also were likely to have reduced wellbeing levels – a situation blamed on generally poorer living conditions among smokers, rather than the smoking itself.

But those on low incomes were the most likely to improve their happiness levels through exercise – although three times a week was enough."

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24539412-23272,00.html

Beer, not just for breakfast !!

There certainly seems to be plenty of evidence to support that!!!!